Vietnam fisheries sector seeks ways to increase EU exports

Vietnamese agencies have been working to limit illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities to boost exports to the EU.

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Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy general secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said, "In the past two months, China increased imports from Vietnam after Covid-19 was brought under control. However, after China detected SARS-CoV-2 on three shrimp packages from Ecuador, imports to China were tightened again and we have also been affected. We’re still having difficulties in other markets too due to Covid-19."

Director of the Directorate of Fisheries Tran Dinh Luan said in order to meet the goal of USD10bn in fisheries exports in 2020, Vietnam needs to expand its markets.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, after the EVFTA takes effect on August 1, Vietnam would have more opportunities to export to the EU. However, Vietnam still needs to meet requirements about illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by the European Commission.

Nguyen Van Trung, head of the Department of Fisheries Exploitation, said there are two major challenges. The first is how to implement administrative fines in localities. Only when the local administrative fines are strictly carried out could other problems like applying and issuing licenses be obeyed better. The second issue is how to deal with fishing boats illegally work in foreign waters.

Ha Le from the Directorate of Fisheries said they had seen a complicated situation when fishermen went to work in areas with overlapping claims, such as between Vietnam and Malaysia. In the latest inspection, the EC accepted the proposal was not to punish those boats but to put them into a group that was at high risk and needed monitoring. Fishing boats that entered another country's territorial waters would be punished.

"In late July, a national meeting about illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will be held. We'll focus on finding solutions to deal with this situation," Ha Le said.

The Directorate of Fisheries is preparing for the visit of the inspectorate from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries from the EC. This will be the third inspection in Vietnam and will be held when the Covid-19 situation in the EU improves.