Viet Nam willing to enhance cooperation in combating illegal fishing

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang made that above statement at the ministry's press conference on July 7 in reply to a question about the U.S. wishing to foster cooperation with Viet Nam in preventing illegal fishing. 

Viet Nam's stance on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is consistent and has been stated many times, she added.

The nation advocates the sustainable development of the marine economy and exploiting aquatic resources in accordance with regulations on combating IUU fishing and relevant international conventions and agreements to which the country is a signatory. 

These pacts include the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of December 10, 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)'s Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

Viet Nam has built and completed a legal system on fisheries to ensure effectiveness and efficiency as well as implemented measures to reduce IUU fishing activities, stop and prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally exploiting seafood in foreign waters, noted Le. 

Relevant agencies and coastal localities manage, communicate and launch specific measures for fishermen to comply with Viet Nam's laws and respect foreign waters as defined by provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The nation has played an active and responsible role in international forums and regional actions on fighting IUU fishing, she asserted.