Brussels (VNA) – Vietnam and the European Union (EU) have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in the field of aquatic farming, exploitation and import-export as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing combat, according to Vietnamese agricultural counsellor in Belgium and the EU Tran Van Cong.

The diplomat noted that the EU is the largest consumer of aquatic products in the world with an annual import value of about 55-60 billion USD, of which 64% come from countries outside the bloc.

Over the years, the EU has been an important export market of Vietnamese farm produce in general and aquatic products in general. Currently, Vietnam is the EU's fifth biggest supplier of aquatic products, with an annual export revenue of 1-1.5 billion USD, accounting for about 2-2.5% of its total aquatic product import value, he noted.

To date, Vietnam has had nearly 600 processing factories in this field granted with codes for exports to the EU.

Vietnam and EU member countries have implemented many cooperation programmes in the field of fisheries, including those in aquatic farming, breed technology, feed, vaccines in aquaculture, environmental treatment, and many others to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions in accordance with relevant commitments, said the counsellor.

Regarding cooperation between the two sides in the negotiations for the removal of the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against the Vietnamese fisheries sector relating to IUU fishing, he said that over the past seven years, Vietnam has always been proactively and actively cooperated with the EC in drastically implementing EU recommendations, and achieved many important, comprehensive results as oriented in building a sustainable and responsible fisheries sector.

Cong said that Vietnam has focused on strengthening leadership and direction on the implementation of the EC’s recommendations to deal with problems in IUU fishing prevention and control, especially since its examination in October 2023.

Vietnam’s efforts in realising the recommendations have been fruitful in accordance with directions, Cong underlined, clarifying that the country has concentrated on key groups of issues.

The country has closely coordinating with the EC in completing the legal framework following international standards on sustainably fisheries management with the issuance of a new Fisheries Law, two decrees and eight circulars, while strengthening the control of its fleet and updating their data, installing the vessel monitoring systems (VMS) on fishing boats, launching the electronic seafood traceability system (eCDT), and promoting law enforcement and the settlement of IUU fishing regulation violations, he elaborated.

Cong highlighted major tasks set by the EU, including putting an end to fishing vessels’ illegal operation in foreign waters, drastically handing those with VMS disconnection, applying the eCDT to replace the paper system, increasing the control over fishing vessels’ operations offshore and at ports, and thoroughly handling individuals and organisations committing wrongdoings related to the origin of imported seafood materials.

He also stressed the need for Vietnam to make good preparations in all stages in anticipation of the trip by the EC inspection team, slated for September or October this year./.