To remove the "Yellow Card" of the European Commission (EC) against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, It is necessary to check the status of violating fishing vessels in the region. Ministries and branches from central to local levels are making efforts to realize the aim this year.

The EC "Yellow card" has had a significant impact on
seafood exports to the EU market. Photo: VNA

After more than four years of Vietnam implementing the EC's recommendations on combating IUU fishing, the EC side has confirmed that Vietnam has made a lot of progress and is on the right track.

For example, the installation of cruise monitoring equipment (VMS) on fishing vessels, marking fishing vessels has made remarkable progress. For example, in Thanh Hoa, up to now, 100% of boats with a length of 15m in the province have completed the installation of VMS.

The provincial fishing port management boards have concentrated human resources, gradually overcome limitations such as recording information about fishing vessels docking, landing output and collecting fishing logs.

However, the leader of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee said that currently in the province, there are eight fishing ports and four storm shelters for fishing vessels, all of which have sedimented channels, which have not met the requirements of anchoring and loading, unloading products, making it difficult for ships to enter and exit the port. This greatly affects the EC's "yellow card" warning.

Similarly, in Binh Dinh, cases of fishing vessels violating foreign waters are being handled. The VMS system of ships is not stable and smooth; many fishing vessels lost connection, interrupted, or crossed the warning boundary.

Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the reason is that some fishermen for economic benefits have intentionally sent fishing boats to illegally exploit seafood in foreign waters. Most ship owners do not directly participate in fishing, but hiring captains to control, organize their own fishing.

Phan Thi Hue, Director of the Legal and Inspection Department, Directorate of Fisheries, assessed that the main reason why Vietnam has not been able to remove the IUU "yellow card" so far is because of the situation of fishing boats violating the waters of other countries in the area, although reduced, still occurs. The traceability of aquatic products from fishing is not uniform among provinces.

In order to overcome the current shortcomings in combating IUU fishing, Mr. Tran Van Phuc said that in the future, Binh Dinh will make a record and strictly handle the fishing vessels, so vessels do not maintain or disable VMS during sea operations.

These fishing vessels will be included in the list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing, sent to relevant agencies and IUU groups inside and outside the province, requesting inspection, strict control and strict handling when the ship departs or returns to the wharf.

Commenting that the EC's requirements and recommendations requires the cooperation of all levels, sectors and localities, Mr. Le Van Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Binh province said the Department will direct the Fisheries Sub-Department and the Quang Binh Provincial Fishing Port Management Board to further strengthen the supervision of fishing vessels; step up the inspection and strictly handle cases of violations.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said, regarding fishing vessel management, the responsibility belongs to the localities. Localities have an important role in mobilizing and mastering awareness for fishermen so that they understand that illegal fishing will affect the whole fisheries industry.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with relevant ministries, departments and agencies and the People's Committees of 28 provinces and cities to effectively use the VMS system of fishing vessels operating at sea.