Vietnam fine-tunes policies, improves management capacity for sustainable fisheries
(VOVWORLD) -Vietnam does not view the implementation of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing recommendations merely as a goal to get the “yellow card” lifted but rather identifies it as a matter of sustainable development, marine resource protection, and securing livelihoods for fishermen, and as a responsibility of Vietnam for regional and global issues, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said on Thursday.
 The EC's IUU inspection team works with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. Photo: VOV |
At a working session with the European Commission (EC) inspection team, who are in Vietnam to review the implementation of measures to combat IUU fishing in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Ha said Vietnam hopes to continue listening to the opinions of the IUU inspection team, thereby helping Vietnam to fine-tune its policies, improve the effectiveness of fisheries management, sustainably utilize marine resources, and fulfill its national responsibility towards ocean issues.
Vietnam is committed to reviewing and amending relevant regulations in the short term, strictly handling violations and publicly disclosing the IUU fishing results, according to the Deputy PM.
Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Director of the Directorate for International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries at the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and head of the IUU inspection delegation, said Vietnam’s efforts over the past eight years have been extraordinary. He reiterated the EU’s readiness to support Vietnam in concluding the process and ultimately lifting the “yellow card.”