Binh Dinh strives to deal with EU “yellow card”

Tran Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said local agencies have increased inspections of fishing activities at the three largest ports of Quy Nhon, De Gi and Tam Quan. 

Over the past three months, up to 5,896 fishing boats and more than 20,000 tonnes of seafood were monitored by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

Phuc said captains have to present relevant documents to competent agencies, inform them about where they will fish before setting sail. They also have inform agencies of their return to port at least an hour before docking. 

Local fishermen have committed to not violating foreign waters while fishing. Training courses have also been held to raise their awareness of the “yellow card” warning. 

Those who violate the commitments could get administrative fines, no longer receive support from the Government and have fishing licenses revoked for six months. 

The European Commission has noted Vietnam’s efforts in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (or IUU) fishing and its inspectors will return to Vietnam in January next year to review progress in addressing its ‘yellow card’ warning.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said despite considerable achievements, Vietnam still struggles with IUU, especially in controlling fishing activities and origin of fishing catches.

Vietnamese authorities have admitted that the country lacks the budget to fit all fishing vessels with proper tracking equipment. They also said that despite the country’s integration of the EC’s recommendations into its 2017 fisheries law, regulations are lacking at local level.
The EC issued the "yellow card" against Vietnamese aquaculture products on October 23 last year.