Expert commends Vietnam’s efforts in IUU fishing combat
Vietnam has shown high determination in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” against its fisheries sector removed, with many achievements and positive changes recorded since 2017, commented Nguyen Anh Thu, a researcher of the Blue Security Fellowship programme at Australia’s La Trobe University.
Thu noted that receiving the EC’s recommendations, Vietnam has worked hard to complete its legal framework by issuing, amending, and supplementing its 2017 Fisheries Law and many relevant decrees and circulars.
Besides, it has increased sanctions and stepped up penalties for fishing vessels violating IUU fishing prevention and control regulations. As of May 21, 2024, the country had had 98.25% of fishing vessels of 15m in length and above equipped with a vessel monitoring system (VMS).
Over the years, Vietnam has actively promoted international cooperation and signed memoranda of understanding with many countries such as Thailand, Australia, and the US in the field, while establishing a hotline and regularly exchanged information with countries in Southeast Asia, she said.
Thu added that Vietnam has actively engaged in and tabling the initiative of building a roadmap on combating IUU fishing in ASEAN in the 2020 - 2025 period.
The expert assessed that in general, Vietnam’s IUU fishing combat efforts have generated positive results, but a number of shortcomings are still remaining and need to be tackled to have the “yellow card” removed.
She recommended that Vietnam should ensure that VMS is installed on 100% of the fishing boats with a length of 15m and above, while strengthening coordination among leaders and fishermen in localities in IUU fishing prevention and combat, and increasing international collaboration in the work.
Thu pointed to Thailand as an example in removing the EC’s “yellow card” for Vietnam to learn, especially in strengthening law enforcement, handling violations, and promoting international cooperation.
According to the expert, Vietnam and Australia have worked closely and effectively together in seafood farming, exploiting and importing-exporting.
Particularly, the upgrade of bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March is expected to open up many new cooperation opportunities for the two countries.
Currently, Australia is Vietnam's fifth largest seafood export market, while Vietnam is among Australia's largest seafood suppliers. Both countries are members of many free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The above free trade agreements have brought many advantages and promoted seafood trade between Vietnam and Australia, said Thu.
She noted that Australia has also made many contributions to Vietnam’s efforts in IUU fishing prevention and combat. In 2017, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to promote long-term cooperation in combating IUU fishing. Australia has supported the organisation of training classes and courses and workshops to popularise IUU fishing prevention and control for Vietnamese fishermen and officials, she added.
