The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hosted a conference in the central province of Binh Dinh on February 28 to discuss measures to strengthen the leadership and instruction over combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong asked localities across the country to absolutely end illegal fishing in foreign waters by May 2020.

As planned, the European Commission (EC) will conduct the third round of inspection over Vietnam’s exploitation of seafood.

In order to have the EC’s IUU warning lifted, Vietnam has strived to follow its nine recommendations by adopting and applying the Law on Fisheries 2017, he said.

Cuong requested that all vessels with a length of over 15m must be equipped with global positioning systems (GPS) between now and April 1, 2020.

State management agencies must reach consensus on equipment standards and technology, he added.

At present, 61 fishing ports in 28 coastal cities and provinces are qualified for tracing the origin of aquatic products.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, there are 125 fishing ports and 146 anchorages across the country, but only 46 percent of the ports and nearly half of the anchorages have met set standards.

Cuong asked units concerned to build a plan to improve fishing ports and anchorages between now and May 2020, thereby suggesting the government adding it into the medium-term capital use plan.

The move is meant to restructure the fishery towards reducing fishing output and increasing aquaculture, he said.

On the occasion, the minister also urged ministries, agencies and localities to instruct farmers to follow the EC’s recommendations on IUU combat.