Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung directed four groups of major tasks while chairing the second meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Hanoi on October 15.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at the event 

On October 23, 2017, the European Commission (EC) issued a “yellow card” warning to Vietnam’s aquatic products exported to European market.

Deputy PM Dung, who is also head of the committee, requested making thorough preparations for a working session with a delegation of EC inspectors who will arrive in Vietnam in early November, including updating them about the country’s past achievements in the effort.

He asked ministries, agencies and people’s committees of 28 centrally-run coastal cities and provinces to seriously follow the government, Prime Minister and committee’s directions to prevent and end IUU fishing.

The Defence Ministry is asked to issue a comprehensive plan on measures to end illegal fishing in foreign waters, towards reducing and ending violations before October 31, 2019 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

The Ministry of Public Security continues fully grasping the situation and ensure law abidance by citizens.

People’s committees of coastal cities and provinces together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Defence Ministry closely monitor activities of fishing vessels at sea.

The second task is the prompt upgrading of infrastructure to monitor fishing vessels at sea, which will be connected with systems from the central to local level.

The third task is the increase of inspection to combat IUU fishing, with the MARD being assigned to hold working trips to localities to inspect the effort, suggest commendation for individuals and collectives who have fulfilled their assigned tasks as well as discipline for those who have showed their lack of responsibility.

For the long-term, he suggested the MARD devise a plan on restructuring the fishery sector with a shift to farming instead of catching, and zoning off aquaculture areas.

Ministries and agencies were also asked to raise public awareness, both at home and abroad, about Vietnam’s outcomes in removing EC’s “yellow card” warning.