Peak of anti-IUU fishing: Absolutely no shirking of responsibility in anti-IUU fishing

Comrade Trinh Minh Hoang - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee.

- Dear comrade, to seriously and effectively implement the peak period against IUU fishing in the province, what requirements does the Provincial People's Committee set for each agency and unit?

- The Provincial People's Committee identified this peak period as a particularly important political task, directly linked to overcoming the EC's recommendations, moving towards removing the IUU "yellow card", so the requirements for agencies and units are to clarify who is responsible, what is done, what is responsible, and when the deadline is completed. In particular, the heads of agencies, units, and localities must directly direct and be responsible to the Provincial People's Committee if there are violations or delays; absolutely do not shirk responsibility. The Department of Agriculture and Environment is the standing agency of the Provincial IUU Steering Committee, responsible for managing the fleet, monitoring the activities and journeys of fishing vessels through the VMS system and strictly controlling the traceability of exploited products. The Provincial Border Guard must strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, not allowing unqualified fishing vessels to go to sea; coordinate to strictly handle acts of crossing the sea boundary and illegal exploitation. The Provincial Police manage population data in connection with fishing vessel data; At the same time, investigate, prosecute and criminally handle cases of brokerage and collusion to bring fishing vessels and fishermen to illegally exploit in foreign waters. The People's Committees of coastal communes and wards must closely follow reality, manage each fishing vessel and each fisherman in the management area; publicly post the list of vessels that are not qualified to operate for people to monitor; assign specific responsibilities to grassroots officials to monitor anchorage locations and prevent fishing vessels from violating. Press and media agencies should step up propaganda activities so that fishermen can grasp the provisions of the law and raise awareness of compliance. The Provincial People's Committee thoroughly grasps the spirit: Do it for real, check it for real, handle it for real, determined not to let the situation of "hot above, cold below" recur.

- What are the key tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing to overcome the EC's recommendations related to the IUU "yellow card", sir?

- The Provincial People's Committee has proposed 6 groups of key tasks and solutions, covering all stages of management, supervision and handling of violations. Specifically: Regarding information and propaganda, the province requires 100% of coastal communes and wards to organize direct propaganda campaigns for fishermen; broadcast columns on newspapers and radio; broadcast at fishing ports and wharves; distribute leaflets and visual billboards in residential areas... so that all fishermen clearly understand the provisions of the Fisheries Law, are aware of the consequences of IUU violations and proactively implement them. Regarding fleet management, it is necessary to complete registration, inspection, licensing, and issuance of food safety certificates for 100% of fishing vessels still in operation; fully update information to the national fisheries database system VNFishbase. Vessels that do not meet the requirements will be listed, publicly posted, strictly managed, and resolutely not allowed to go to sea. Regarding the monitoring of fishing vessels, it is necessary to strictly control 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port through the border and fishing ports; functional units organize peak periods of patrolling and controlling at seaports, beaches, fishing ports and strictly handle violations... In particular, regarding the prevention of fishing vessels from violating foreign waters, functional units make a list of vessels and fishermen at high risk of violating, assign officers to follow the vessels and fishermen for propaganda and management; at the same time, organize 24/7 monitoring of fishing vessels operating at sea, promptly warn and prevent; criminally handle those who organize and broker fishing vessels to violate to deter the community.

- To achieve high results in the anti-IUU fishing peak period in the province, how will the Provincial People's Committee allocate resources for agencies to carry out this task, sir?

- This is the peak period of fighting against IUU fishing, it is necessary to mobilize all resources to prepare to welcome and work with the EC Inspection Delegation for the 5th time, which is decisive for the EC to consider and remove the "yellow card" warning for Vietnam's exploited seafood. The Provincial People's Committee has a plan to allocate resources synchronously in 3 aspects:

Regarding human resources, the province has directed its subordinate units to urgently complete working groups at fishing ports; increase staff on duty 24/7 at the Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center; and clearly assign responsibilities to commune and ward officials in managing each fishing vessel. The province also requires border guards, police, and fisheries surveillance forces to coordinate synchronously to ensure strict control from shore to sea.

Regarding financial resources, based on the estimates of the units, the province has directed the Department of Finance to synthesize and advise the Provincial People's Committee to arrange funds in a timely manner. Priority will be given to urgent items such as: Facilities and working conditions for representative offices for fisheries control; investment in means and equipment to apply the electronic seafood traceability software system (eCDT) at fishing ports; organizing training, propaganda and costs for patrolling, inspecting and handling violations. The province also mobilizes the support of seafood processing and exporting enterprises in complying with traceability; promoting the role of fisheries associations, solidarity groups for production at sea, unions and fishing communities in monitoring and self-management.

We identify that the State's resources to carry out the task of combating IUU fishing are the "lever", but success depends on the decisive participation of the entire political system and the consensus of fishermen in the province. When each ship owner and each fisherman voluntarily complies, the "yellow card" warning can be quickly removed, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

Thank you, comrade!

THANH XUAN - HAI LANG (Implementation)

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202508/cao-diem-chong-khai-thac-iuu-tuyet-doi-khong-dun-day-trach-nhiem-trong-chong-khai-thac-iuu-c67673b/