Vietnam's fishery sector achieves its export target of 8 billion USD in 2017. (Source: VNA)
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) announced the White Book on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Vietnam at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh on January 14.
The bilingual book, in Vietnamese and English, has five chapters, providing detailed information about Vietnam’s fishery sector and regulations on IUU fishing and enforcement in the country.
The book also reported on Vietnam’s efforts to remove the warning under the European Commission’s “yellow card”, the Vietnamese Government’s long-term action plan against IUU fishing, and recommendations made by stakeholders in the seafood value chain.
According to VASEP Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, who is also head of the VASEP’s IUU control board, the publication devotes one chapter to underline the viewpoint and the message of zero tolerance for seafood sourced from IUU fishing from VASEP and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
VASEP and seafood enterprises are ready and resolved to team up with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), as well as relevant parties to implement the action plan, the book said.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam hailed the VASEP’s release of the white book as a useful initiative in the communication campaign against IUU fishing.
The book is expected to help the EC gain a better understanding of the local fishery sector and the country’s efforts to improve the IUU situation, thus soon withdrawing its “yellow card”, he said.
The debut of the book was made on the occasion of the celebration of the fishery sector’s completion of its export target of 8 billion USD in 2017.
VNA
