Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has asked coastal localities to resolutely put an end to illegal fishing in foreign waters, which will be a decisive factor in Vietnam having the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed.

He made the statement while chairing a teleconference on August 29 with 28 coastal cities and provinces on solutions to tackle IUU fishing.

The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a plan focusing on certain key tasks in order to make the necessary preparations for the visit by a fourth EC delegation in October.

Speaking at the teleconference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said Vietnam has identified and introduced solutions to fight IUU fishing since October 2017.

The ministry is completing procedures for submission to the government on promulgating two decrees amending and supplementing Government Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP and Decree No. 42/2019/ND-CP, to address the difficulties and shortcomings facing the implementation of regulations fighting IUU fishing.

It is also working with other ministries and relevant sectors and localities on Prime Minister-approved programs, projects, and plans towards a fishery sector that is sustainable and responsible during international integration and that tackles IUU fishing, effectively implementing the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries by 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Regarding the management of fishing vessels, Mr. Tien said that following the EC’s recommendation on reducing the fleet and fishing intensity, the ministry advised the Prime Minister to direct localities to temporarily cease approving the building of new vessels with a length of 15 meters or more and the upgrade of vessels with a length of less than 15 meters into vessels of 15 meters or more, since December 20, 2022.

As of August 29, Vietnam had 86,829 fishing vessels with a length of 6 meters or more, 9,789 fewer than in 2019. Of those, 30,091 vessels were 15 meters or more, down 1,206 since 2019.