Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) The directive, signed off by Permanent Member of theSecretariat Truong Thi Mai, highlighted the fisheries sector’s development overthe past years. It also notes that since 2017, all-level authorities, sectors,and the national steering committee for combating IUU fishing have exertedefforts to carry out policies and legal regulations, build systems formonitoring fishing vessels, and boost management, thus gradually reducingviolations.
However,the directive also pointed out that the sector has yet to secure trulysustainable development or fully comply with anti-IUU fishing regulations. As aresult, the country hasn’t succeeded in having the European Commission (EC)’s “yellowcard” warning over the issue removed.
The Secretariat underlined the main causes of current shortcomings and assigned some focal and urgent tasks to Party committees and organisations,administrations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and socio-political organisationsso as to ramp up the fight against IUU fishing and ensure sustainable fisheriesdevelopment.
It required them to view the IUU fishing combat as an important,urgent, and also long-term task critical to sustainable fisheries development,as well as a responsibility of the entire political system and the wholesociety.
Itasked for stepping up law dissemination and awareness-raising activities; effectivelyimplementing the strategy for sustainably developing Vietnam’s maritime economyuntil 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with the plans, strategies, and programmesrelated to the fisheries sector’s sustainable development and international integration;and quickly perfecting relevant policies and legal regulations.
Othertasks include paying due attention to the policies on aquaculture, fisheryresources exploitation, protection and development, and export processing;supporting the modernisation of the fisheries sector; improving livelihoods andvocational training for fishermen; and bettering the state management capacity.
Thefisheries resources surveillance force and relevant agencies are required to enhance their capacity and sense of responsibility while examination,inspection, monitoring, law enforcement, and settlement of violations must be enhanced and public - private partnership in building fishery infrastructure should be encouraged and facilitated.
The tasks also include strengthening internationalcooperation, especially with the EU and European countries, boosting diplomaticmeasures, garnering support from relevant parties in order to have the “yellowcard” warning lifted soon, and preventing fishing vessels and fishermen’sillegal operations in foreign waters from affecting Vietnam’s relations withother countries.
TheSecretariat also asked for taking diplomatic actions to protect the Vietnamesefishing vessels and fishermen who do not commit IUU fishing but are detained byforeign authorities in overlapping, disputed, and undemarcated waters.
Anothertask is to accelerate negotiations and signing on the delimitation of exclusiveeconomic zones and continental shelves between Vietnam and other countries,according to the directive./.
VNA
