A delegation from the European Union’s Directorate for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is expected to visit Vietnam in late May or early June to evaluate the “yellow card” warning that the bloc imposed on Vietnam in 2017, according to a statement from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
If the inspectors find that the E.C.’s recommendations have not been effectively implemented, it is highly possible that a “red card” will be issued, the ministry said. A red card would result in seafood exports from Vietnam to E.U. being banned.
In a response to a request from SeafoodSource for comment, an E.C. official declined to confirm the details of the visit.
"The content of IUU dialogues, including the dates of the missions to third countries, is confidential. The European Commission continues cooperating with the Vietnamese authorities on this matter," the official said.
An original inspection date of January 2019 was postponed after the E.C. said it needed more time to review Vietnam’s 2018 Fisheries Law, which came into effect 1 January this year, was being implemented. In addition, the E.C. is still evaluating Vietnam’s implementation of several other improvements it is requiring Vietnam implement in its fishing sector, including equipping each vessels with a satellite-connected global positioning device and reigning in illegal excursions by Vietnamese vessels into the territorial waters of neighboring countries.
On 23 April, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held an urgent conference with other relevant government bodies in Vietnam to discuss issues concerning the yellow card.
The conference, chaired by Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong, was convened as local authorities have not been able to fully control illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities by local fishermen in other countries’ waters, the ministry said.
Reports from Vietnam’s Directorate of Fisheries showed that last year 137 vessels with 1,162 fishermen were found illegally fishing in foreign waters, including in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and Brunei, up from 91 vessels in 2017. The similar number in early months of this year was 46 vessels with 96 fishermen.
The violations have not been curbed because penalties on violators are not strong enough, Cuong said. Loose management of authorized agencies, especially in offshore areas, has also contributed to the situation.
Deputy Commander of Vietnam Marine Police Bui Trung Dung told the conference fishermen violating other countries’ waters should be punished more severely. Those who deliberately commit IUU-related offenses repeatedly should face legal proceedings, Dung said.
Cuong agreed Vietnam has not effectively implemented four out of nine recommendations issued by the E.C, including failures to control IUU fishing and traceability issues.
As part of the measures to tackle the problems, the minister requested the directorate of fisheries to draft a decree on sanctioning administrative violations in fisheries sector which will be approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. He also asked relevant law enforcement forces to increase operations at sea with a view to preventing boats from fishing illegally in other countries.
