Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister TrinhDinh Dung has demanded that coastal cities and provinces deploy drastic andsynchronous measures to prevent illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Fishing boats that fail to switch on the monitordevice should be strictly punished, said the official at a teleconference inHanoi on August 3 to review the implementation of Directive No. 45/CT-TTg on anumber of urgent tasks to deal with the European Commission (EC)’s warning on illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Along with closely inspecting fishing activities,another important task is to create more jobs for fishermen, he noted. One ofthe key solutions to this issue is to develop industry and services as part ofthe coastal economy, along with providing occupational training for coastalpopulation to facilitate their switch to other jobs, thus lessening thepressure on fishing.

The EC’s “yellow card” poses a high risk to Vietnam’sseafood export to the European Union and other foreign markets, andsubsequently adversely impacts local people’s production and lives, Deputy PMDung said.

“If no solutions are taken, the incident woulddirectly affect the seafood sector, the lives and income of fishermen, thedevelopment of the national maritime economy, and Vietnam’s image and prestigein the world,” Dung emphasised.

He, therefore, urged the Government, ministries,agencies and localities to quickly implement measures to have the warningremoved. In the long run, such measures will also serve the re-organisation of fishingactivities for sustainable development, including serious observance ofinternational rules on fishing.

In October 23, 2017, the ECissued a “yellow card” warning to Vietnam, after the country failed todemonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing.

A working delegation from theEC’s General Directorate for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries visited Vietnamfrom May 16-24 to inspect the country’s implementation of the EC’s ninerecommendations related to the fight against IUU fishing.

 The nine recommendations included revisions tothe legal framework to ensure compliance with international and regional rules,applicable to the conservation and management of fisheries resources; ensuringthe effective implementation and enforcement of the country’s revised laws; andstrengthening the effective implementation of international rules andmanagement measures.

 The EC inspectors will return to Vietnam inJanuary 2019 to review the country’s progress in addressing its “yellow card”warnings. -VNA