Localities should call for businesses to invest in the construction of fishing ports to lessen the burden on the State and move towards the long-term goal of developing fisheries into an important, highly-competitive economic sector, the Government News has reported.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan made the statement at a hybrid conference with 28 coastal cities and provinces on August 26 discussing solutions for the sustainability of the fisheries industry and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Participants also discussed changing careers and improving livelihoods and living standards for fishermen; restructuring the industry towards reducing catch-based and increasing farm-based practices while ensuring supply for export to increase annual turnover; and strengthening the efficiency of managing, exploiting, and protecting marine resources and developing marine protected areas for economic value and reducing destructive fishing practices.

“The restructuring of the fisheries industry from unsustainable resource exploitation to sustainable development and balancing exploitation, farming, and conservation based on the ecosystem, including State management, the business community, and fishermen, is a suitable direction and in line with Vietnam’s fisheries development strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2045, approved by the Prime Minister,” Minister Hoan said.

“Therefore, it is essential that coastal localities closely follow this direction to develop the marine economy in general and the fisheries industry in particular according to the specific circumstances in each locality.”

He also asked coastal localities to implement effective solutions to combat IUU fishing so that the EC’s “yellow card” on this matter will be removed, and to establish certain environmentally-friendly production areas associated with the development of ecotourism.