Seafood processors, importers and exporters in Vietnam have been urged to participate in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing or risk being prohibited from exporting to key markets such as the EU.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has warned its seafood sector that Vietnam could be given a so-called "yellow card" from the EU if it does not promptly and fully adhere to the bloc’s requirements on fighting IUU fishing, which are related to the five recommendations made by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ (DG MARE) working group during the reviewed period of 15-19 May 2017 in Vietnam.
The IUU regulation applies to all EU or third-country vessels at EU ports and all seafood products imported to or exported from EU countries. This regulation was introduced in 2010 to ensure that no illegally harvested fishery products enter the EU market.
VASEP highlighted that if a country is subject to a yellow card, it creates nervousness among EU retailers in connection with seafood imported from that country, and they may substitute the seafood from that particular country. If the country is hit with a red card, its seafood products will be banned from all EU markets.
The association said its members were aware of the importance of the IUU regulations and relevance for seafood businesses, and realized that the fight against IUU would be a long-term process that needed active and regular participation of seafood businesses.
Furthermore, these members said it was necessary to set up a management board for seafood businesses to fight against IUU fishing.
Deputy Head of the Directorate of Fisheries’ Technology Science and International Co-operation Department, Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung, said relevant agencies were taking urgent measures to prevent Vietnamese fishing vessels from fishing illegally in Pacific islands’ waters. In addition, there would be a focus on strengthening control measures at local ports, increasing inspections and expanding the vessel monitoring system (VMS) network for large vessels.
“The Vietnamese agencies will strengthen co-operation on fighting IUU fishing with countries in the region and the Pacific islands and join the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Agreement on Port State Measures and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement," she said.
To date, 24 countries and territories have received red or yellow cards under the EU’s IUU regulation, of which 13 nations had their penalty cards withdrawn thanks to improved management systems, including Ghana, Guinea, Panama and Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea and Sri Lanka. Of the remainder, three nations were given red cards – Cambodia, Comoros, and St. Vincent and Grenadines – and eight nations and territories were given yellow cards, including Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Tuvalu.
