Effective coordination to prevent IUU fishing

The coordination between the Coast Guard Command and the Directorate of Fisheries contributes to law enforcement at sea, effectively supporting the early removal of the 'yellow card' for IUU fishing

On August 19, the Directorate of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the Coast Guard Command held a conference to review the two-year coordination regulations between the two units and develop directions for the next two years.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, after the regulation No. 3574/QC-BTLCSB-TCTS dated April 7, 2020, was signed, the Coast Guard Region Command 1, 2, 3, 4; Reconnaissance 1, 2; The Sub-Departments of Fisheries Control in regions 1 and 5 quickly deployed according to their functions, tasks, contents of regulations and plans.

With the initiative, and close coordination, the tasks have been implemented very effectively. In removing the "yellow card" for IUU fishing, the Coast Guard regularly maintains a fleet and coordinates with the fishery control force to strengthen patrols and control in the border area between Vietnam and Malaysia, Thailand.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the General Department of Fisheries, shared: Thanks to the close direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the coordination and help of friends, the fisheries sector still maintained its speed. Impressive growth.

In the first seven months of this year, fishing output reached over 5 million tonnes, and export turnover reached US$ 6.7 billion, up over 30% over the same period.

Currently, the sustainable development strategy of the fisheries sector is aimed at reducing catches and increasing aquaculture production.

However, for mariculture activities to take place smoothly, especially offshore farming, the fisheries industry alone will not be able to do it.

In addition, for sustainable fishing activities, no vessels violating the coordination and support of law enforcement forces at sea with the fisheries sector is essential.

The Vietnam Coast Guard will continue to support and closely coordinate with the Directorate of Fisheries to implement a sustainable fisheries development strategy successfully; enforce legal provisions and fisheries law in depth and substance.

From 2022 to 2023, the two units will continue to direct the force to implement Directives No. 45 strictly, Dispatch 732 and 1257 of the Prime Minister, Decision 78/QD-TTg on action plans to prevent, reduce and eliminate IUU fishing.

The two parties continue to provide and exchange information as prescribed; Results of handling violations of IUU fishing to coordinate and promptly propose solutions to operate according to regulations;

Strengthen international cooperation, exchange information with countries in the region, and request your country to provide evidence of violations by Vietnamese fishing vessels (photos, minutes, etc.) law of Vietnam;

Closely coordinate with local authorities in coastal provinces; propagating, disseminating, and educating organizations and individuals engaged in fishing activities in sea areas about the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard, the Law on Fisheries, and documents detailing and guiding the implementation;

Implement measures to guide fishermen to recognize the boundaries of Vietnam's waters with other countries, mainly undefined, overlapping, and sensitive areas, so that fishermen do not infringe;

Coordinating in search and rescue at sea, promptly deploying support forces at the request of relevant forces of both sides on incidents at sea, handing over, receiving, and supporting victims;

Strengthen coordination in patrolling, inspection, and control activities in sea areas, especially in bordering seas, to promptly detect fishing vessels showing signs of violations or intentionally infringing upon foreign waters; and coordinate to upgrade and perfect the software to monitor fishing vessel journeys of the Directorate of Fisheries.

Major General Le Quang Dao, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said: Currently, an issue that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Directorate of Fisheries are very concerned about is removing the IUU "yellow card". The Coast Guard Force defines the task of firmly preventing, limiting, and stopping Vietnamese fishing vessels from IUU fishing in foreign waters as one of the critical political tasks.

Building cooperation regulations together will help both units get better and stronger. Therefore, in the coming time, the two sides need to fully and seriously understand 100% of their officers and soldiers about the tasks identified in the coordination regulations.

In addition, the consulting departments of the two units must jointly review in the past two years of coordination what problems have not been done, specify the causes and offer immediate and more extended solutions to solve problems.

After the preliminary conference, the two sides will develop a joint plan, which focuses on redeploying personnel, and agree on methods of specific coordination for each job and department to ensure absolute safety for officers and soldiers.