HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam’s fishery sector expects to regain a “green card” from theEuropean Commission (EC) after working tirelessly to fight illegal, unreportedand unregulated (IUU) fishing, but much work needs to be done, especially fishingmanagement and attitude of local fishermen.

The information was heardat a conference to review two-year implementation of the programme “Vietnammarine product companies commit to combating IUU fishing” held in Ho Chi MinhCity on September 25.

Vice Chairwoman of theVietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Thi ThuSac said despite concerted efforts of the Government, competent ministries andsectors as well as seafood enterprises, it is hard to identify the exact timewhen Vietnam regains the “green card”.

Vietnam got the “yellowcard” on September 23, 2017 as the country failed to demonstrate sufficientprogress in the battle against IUU fishing. Earlier, the Government and theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development carried out a wide range ofmeasures to better control fishing and prevent illegal actions.

To date, 62 seafoodcompanies across the country have committed to joining national efforts bypurchasing seafood from fishing vessels which have enough exploitationlicenses, certificates by fishing ports and fishing journey diary.

Sac said the installationof GPS and monitoring devices for fishing vessels is a tough mission due totheir high costs and poor awareness of local fishermen.

She suggested that thecommunication work on IUU fishing should be enhanced among fishermen, and properpunishments should be handed out to any violators.

Besides, relatedauthorities should focus on improving oversight of fishing and upgradingnational database on fishing vessels, fishing tools, fishing areas, ports, andfishing certificates.

According to VASEP DeputySecretary General Nguyen Hoai Nam, seafood is among five key exports ofVietnam, with average export revenue of 7-8 billion USD per year in the pastthree years. The fishery sector not only creates jobs for nearly 5 millionlabourers but it also makes contributions to ensuring national security anddefence.

The EU is the second largest importer of Vietnamese seafood, just behind theUS, and accounts for 17 percent of the country’s seafood shipments. After the“yellow card” was imposed on Vietnam in 2017, the country’s seafood exportsfell 6.5 percent to nearly 390 million USD in 2018 from 415 million USD in 2017,Nam said.

In the first eight monthsof 2019, shipments to the EU remain stagnant, standing at 251 million USD. TheEU now drops to the 5th place in the list of Vietnamese top seafoodimporters.

Local businesses said the “yellow card” has created knock-on effects on exportsas besides the EU, it results in a fall in shipments to the US and many otherpotential markets.

In fact, the “yellow card” has made EU customers to reduce or refuse topurchase Vietnamese seafood. Since the “yellow card” was announced, all ofVietnamese seafood containers have been kept at EU ports for origin examinations.Along with paying high costs for the containers at the ports, unlucky exportersmay face another challenge – their products will be returned home./.