Gov’t determined to end illegal fishing in foreign waters

The Government chief tasked the Ministry of Public Security to promptly prosecute those who bring Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen to infringe upon foreign waters.

Pham also requested coastal localities to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct comprehensive inspection of all fishing boats: registered and unregistered boats, boats with expired registration, boats equipped and not equipped with vessel monitoring system (VMS); strictly fines boats that fail to comply with regulations on IUU fishing combat.

The local authorities must strictly monitor all fishing boats sailing to the sea and direct law enforcement forces to strengthen patrol and inspection to timely detect and handle violations.

Localities must regularly and fully update information on its fishing boat fleets on the national fisheries database (VNFishbase); strictly monitor fishing boats entering and exiting fishing ports; strictly supervise loading and unloading of seafood at fishing ports.

The Prime Minister ordered localities to arrange sufficient resources (workforce, finance, and equipment) for competent forces to enhance their capability of combatting IUU fishing.

Pham also called on the Viet Nam Fisheries Society, Viet Nam Tuna Association, Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood exporters and producers to continue joining hands with the Government in the fight against IUU fishing, and say no to purchase, processing and export of IUU-related products.

Prime Minister Pham called on fishermen to abide by Viet Nam's policies and law and its international commitments to marine environmental protection./.