Dung stressed the point while chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Tuesday.

He tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to thoroughly consider recommendations of the European Commission (EC) delegation sent to Viet Nam last month to review the country’s efforts in fighting IUU fishing.

The Ministry of National Defense was assigned to deploy measures to resolutely prevent and stop Vietnamese fishing boats from violating foreign waters before the EC sent next delegation to Viet Nam.

Dung tasked the Ministry of Public Security to promptly investigate and strictly fine organizations and individuals who intentionally arrange illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Meanwhile, the ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked to coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to provide instructions for fishermen to carry out legal fishing activities.

Last November, the EC delegation, led by Veronika Veits, Director for the International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries at the EC’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, praised Viet Nam’s results in the execution of the commission’s recommendations to fight against IUU fishing, bringing the country closer to having the yellow card on its seafood exports lifted, Dung said.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the removal of “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood products is of significant importance for Viet Nam to boost seafood exports to the European Union and maintain the country’s image on international arena.

Viet Nam’s seafood exports grew by 7.5% on average over the past five years with the export turnover reaching US$2.5 billion in 2018, according to Dung.