VN won’t tolerate IUU fishing: MARD

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will never tolerate or permit activities related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Vũ Văn Tám said on Saturday.

Tám shared his opinion after receiving information that a foreign fishing vessel had violated IUU fishing regulations and was suspected to have docked in Việt Nam.

Tám said MARD assigned relevant agencies, especially the Directorate of Fisheries and the Department of Animal Health, to verify this information and report to the ministry this week.

“If violations are detected, the cases shall be strictly handled,” Tám said.

"Việt Nam is being warned by the EU of being issued yellow cards on IUU, so we will have to do our best to overcome this problem," he added.

Tám said the Government and MARD had directed relevant ministries to fight against IUU fishing, making it clear Việt Nam would not tolerate or allow illegal fishing activities.

To go along with the international community to stop the IUU fishing, Việt Nam is concentrating on implementing many solutions through which it will put the fight against IUU fishing into the revised Fisheries Law and build a national action plan to prevent, minimise and eliminate IUU fishing until 2025.

The Prime Minister has also sent a message on preventing, minimising and stopping illegal fishing vessels and Vietnamese fishermen from fishing in foreign waters. Through these activities, Việt Nam hopes the EU will lift the yellow card soon.

In addition, the community of seafood exporters in Việt Nam also expressed its determination through its commitment to combat IUU fishing. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), 62 enterprises have committed to purchasing and importing seafood from legal fishing vessels with clear origin.

They will not buy seafood of fishing vessels caught illegally or exploited without a permit, without fishing diary, not reported as regulated and exploited with prohibited fishing tools. At the same time, they will say no to rare species of seafood and catch products that are smaller than those permitted.

Earlier, at a meeting with VASEP and businesses held on November 9 in HCM City, First Counselor of Trade and Economic Affairs of the EU Delegation in Việt Nam Miriam Garcia Ferrer provided information on an IUU fishing vessel that was suspected to have landed in Việt Nam.

Shortly after receiving this information, deputy secretary general of VASEP Nguyễn Hoài Nam said the association would verify the information from relevant sectors. — VNS