Fishing boats anchor on Cai Be river, Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province. (Photo: VNA) VASEP Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam said that there isa lack of consistency among existing legal documents on seafood production,making it difficult for enterprises to comply.
He pointed out that, for example, Decree 37/2024/ND-CP dated April4, 2024 guiding the implementation of several points of the Law on Fisheriesand Decree 38/2024/ND-CP on administrative penalties for violations infisheries still causes different understandings related to the mixing of importedfishery products with those domestically exploited.
It should be made clear how that mixing is banned, in a batch forexport, in a container, or in any situation, he said.
The fact is that not every batch has products processed from rawmaterials of the same origins, but they are mixed because raw materials ofdomestic origin alone are not adequate to meet the demand. The key is thatenterprises must be able to prove the fishing practices are legal, he said.
VASEP President Nguyen Thi Thu Sac said that fisheries businessescommit to work with the Government in the process of removing the yellow cardwarning against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) imposed by theEuropean Commission.
However, when issuing regulations, State management agenciesshould clearly define the goal that control should be on the entire fisheryvalue chain, from exploitation and processing to exporting, she said.
Sac pointed out that most enterprises operating in the fisheryindustry are of small or medium size which makes it easier for them to quit themarket or just produce following outsourcing contracts.
Thus, besides removing IUU yellow card, it is necessary to createfavourable conditions for businesses to operate efficiently and ensure incomesfor fishermen and workers to increase the added value of the fishery chain.
The Government early this week issued Resolution 52/NQ-CP onaction programme and plan to combat IIU and promote sustainable development ofthe fisheries industry.
Accordingly, the focus will be on ensuring no illegal fisheryproducts are exported and IUU fishing will be thoroughly handled.
The long-term solution is to urgently review and improve policiesfor the fisheries industry, especially policies on aquaculture, exploitation,protection and development of aquatic resources, preservation and processingfor export, as well as support to modernise fishing practices and improvelivelihoods of fishermen and enhance their practices in line with domestic andinternational regulations./.
VNA
