Vietnam intensifies efforts to combat IUU fishing

VOV.VN - Experts, at a workshop in Hanoi on June 17, reviewed results of cooperation initiatives in development of a fishing vessel data analysis system that contributes to reducing the risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The workshop, jointly held by the Directorate of Fisheries and the Center for Marine Life Conservation and Community Development (MCD), brought together more than 50 delegates from units under the General Department of Fisheries, representatives of a number of coastal provinces, fishing ports, ship owners, fishermen and other organizations.

Participants examined two important aspects in IUU fishing prevention: the management capacity of the fishing vessel tracking system (VMS) and the national electronic fishery traceability system (eCDT). The participation of non-state organizations such as MCD in the pilot implementation process in practice with localities has contributed to providing many valuable lessons for completing related policies.

According to a representative of the fisheries information center, by mid-2022, the nationwide fishing vessel tracking and monitoring system has been basically completed with the decentralization of data management between central management and local authorities. applicable to two types of fishing vessels over 24m and 15m in length.

The initiative promoted by MCD with technical support from Global Fishing Watch (GFW) has created opportunities to exchange international and regional best practices in data analysis from VMS, especially in the development of risk identification criteria for IUU prevention.

Judging from actual performance, GFW experts have pointed out some findings that the VMS information system can analyze to help management decisions such as abnormal factors in vessels speed, signal interruption or signal transmission as per the current regulations of fishing vessels.

Nguyen Thu Hue, director of MCD said a number of practical activities have been carried out during the past two years in Binh Dinh and Kien Giang provinces. These activities were focused on how to operate the VMS system, pilot the E-log Book in Binh Dinh, train fishermen in Nha Trang, provide technical guidance on VMS and discuss electronic traceability, along with technical consultation sessions with stakeholders reviewing the implementation and improvement of relevant regulations/policies.

Addressing the event, Tran Dinh Luan, director general of the Directorate of Fisheries, highly appreciated the fruitful cooperation of organizations such as MCD and GFW.

“Lessons learned from the initiative have contributed to amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, which is related to IUU risk assessment criteria, including: stages such as risks for ship owners, captains, risks of fishing vessels, fishing, fishing vessel journeys, monitoring technology and onshore information management,” said Luan.

At the same time, he said Circular 01/2022 has opened the legalization for pilot and implement eCDT.   

Delegates agreed that partnership needs to be further developed to support localities and sectoral management agencies in carrying out urgent tasks as enshrined in Notice 245/TB-VPCP dated September 14, 2021 indicating the Prime Minister's conclusion, which mentioned the effective exploitation and use of the monitoring system for fishing vessels.

Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen coordination between relevant forces in investigating and processing fishing vessel data through VMS to strictly penalize fishing vessels violating IUU fishing; continue to strengthen the organization and implementation of international cooperation activities on fisheries, prevention and control of IUU fishing between Vietnam and other regional and international fisheries and organizations.

Last but not least it is imperative to fully implement Vietnam's obligations and commitments to international fisheries agreements and conventions to which Vietnam is a member or a signatory in an attempt to prevent, reduce and eliminate IUU fishing.

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