Speed up the removal of 'yellow card’ in 2022

Set the removal of 'yellow card’ a goal in 2022

Over the years, the fishery sector has become one of the key economic sectors, greatly contributing to Vietnam's socio-economic development. However the management of resources and fishing activities still have many shortcomings, resulting in unsustainable development.

On October 23rd, 2017, the European Commission (EC) put a "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood products exporting to the European market for not fully complying with regulations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

After four years of great efforts, Vietnam’s acts on the prevention of IUU fishing have obtained certain results, but many complicated issues remain, impeding the progress. The situation of vessels violating fishing activities in foreign waters continues to occur. The EC confirmed that it will not remove the "yellow card" if this grave situation does not come to an end.

Ineffective IUU fishing prevention measures may put Vietnam in a position of  “a non-cooperating country”. The country will most likely be subject to the "red card" measure and all caught fishery products will be banned from being exported to the EU. As the credibility of the EU market is unquestionable, other markets may apply similar measures.

Therefore, for Vietnam to fulfill the goal of removing the EC "yellow card” by 2022, right from the beginning of 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Directorate of Fisheries has taken the initiative to review, promptly supplement, and perfect the system of legal documents to develop the Scheme “IUU Fishing Prevention until 2025”.

Since the EC "yellow card" warning Vietnam's seafood export activities have been significantly affected and continuously in decline over the years.

Increased export costs, prolonged customs clearance, and 100% inspection for seafood shipments originating from fishing to the EU market have caused many businesses and fishermen to suffer. The reputation of Vietnam's seafood industry is at stake.

Improve the quality of fisheries infrastructure

The overall goal of the Scheme “IUU Fishing Prevention until 2025” is to implement synchronously and efficiently the legal provisions on fisheries, and focus on implementing regulations on the prevention of IUU fishing.

One of the groups of tasks and solutions formed from the scheme is “Investment, upgrade and completion of fisheries infrastructure, consolidation of organizational apparatus, and resources and equipment supplement at fishing ports”.

Accordingly, the scheme will prioritize allocating funds to invest, upgrade, and maintain fisheries infrastructure at fishing ports and storm shelters following the planning. The Central Government invests in grade I fishing ports, localities invest in grade II and III fishing ports.

The scheme will also consolidate the organizational apparatus for local fisheries agencies, especially at fishing ports. The aim is to ensure consistency and synchronization in the model of fishing port organization and management and the model of fisheries inspection and control at fishing ports in all 28 coastal provinces and cities.

The priority of this group of tasks lies in allocating funds, investing, upgrading equipment and working conditions. Qualified personnel will be deployed for the Fisheries Inspection and Control Office as well as the Fishing Port Management Boards to improve management capacity at fishing ports.

The project will pilot the fishery control model at 3 fishing ports in 3 regions including the Northern region (Hai Phong), the Central region (Khanh Hoa), and the Southern region (Ca Mau) with technical support and guidance from the EC.

8 groups of key solutions and tasks

1. Tasks and solutions on information and communication.

2. Tasks and solutions on completion of legal framework, mechanisms and policies.

3. Tasks and solutions on investment, upgrade and completion of fisheries infrastructure, consolidation of organizational apparatus, and resources and equipment supplement at fishing ports.

4. Tasks and solutions on improvement of capacity and efficiency of patrol, inspection and control at sea from the fisheries surveillance force and other relevant functional forces.

5. Tasks and solutions on fleet management, fishing capability, monitoring, inspection and control of fishing vessel activities.

6. Tasks and solutions on law enforcement and punishment for IUU fishing acts.

7. Tasks and solutions on traceability of seafood products.

8. Tasks and solutions on performance of obligations under international treaties and international cooperation.