(VOVWORLD) - An inspection team of the European Commission will visit Vietnam later this month for the 4th inspection on Vietnam’s compliance with the EU’s regulations on illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention. With a strong determination get the EC’s yellow card on IUU fishing removed, Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities are accelerating efforts to enforce compliance with the EU’s regulations.
 Cruise monitoring equipment is installed in a fishing vessel. (Photo: VNA) |
Last month, the Prime Minister sent a dispatch asking 28 coastal cities and provinces to take resolute actions recommended by the EU and prepare to work with the EU’s inspection team.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to implement strong measures to stop Vietnamese fishermen illegally fishing in foreign waters.
Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy General Director of the Fishery Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said localities are registering and installing cruise monitoring equipment in line with regulations, and ending illegal fishing in foreign waters.
Mr. Hung said: 'We have asked for a review of dossiers and records and compliance with fishing regulations. All dossiers and records need to be organized and traceable. Fishermen are requested to stop illegal fishing.'
Cruise monitoring equipment has been installed in more than 2,600 vessels, 95% of the fishing vessels in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Huynh Son Thai, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria Vung Tau province said the province has set up 3 inter-sectoral inspection points to inspect fishing vessels and has launched special operations to prevent illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing.
'In order to certify the origin of fisheries at the request of the European Commission, we have conducted extraordinary inspection of fishery ports and businesses and made a report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Department has fine-tuned the provincial Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and set up a station to monitor fishing vessels.' said Mr. Thai.
The Command of Coastal Guard Region 2 coordinated with relevant forces to conduct sea patrols and inspections of law enforcement at sea from Quang Tri to Binh Dinh province. Functional agencies have inspected, monitored the installment of cruise monitoring equipment, and disseminated information on fishing regulations.
Mr. Pham Quang Dung of the Sub-Department of Fishery in Quang Ngai province, said: 'We have conducted patrols and strengthened communications to raise people’s awareness concerning IUU fishing. We are determined to get the yellow card removed.'
After three inspections, the EC acknowledged Vietnam’s improvement in IUU prevention. With strong determination and efforts, Vietnam hopes to get the EC’s yellow card removed after the 4th inspection.