Vietnam’s anti-IUU fishing efforts: Insights from Global Experts

James Borton was interviewed by Vietnam+ regarding Vietnam’s efforts to address the European Commission’s (EC) recommendations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for the last seven years.

James Borton told Vietnam News Agency that Vietnamese authorities have demonstrated an eagerness and willingness to strengthen its legal framework and improve traceability and transparency in seafood trade. “These commitments underscore the significance of collaborative engagement in addressing IUU fishing challenges,” he said.

Borton was of the view that IUU fishing continues to be a problem of the Vietnamese fishing industry that is a cornerstone of the country’s economy. “As a result, Vietnam has taken urgent steps to move towards greater marine stewardship since the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam) - one of the richest fishing grounds in the world - has suffered depletion of fish stocks.”

Since Vietnam is one of the major seafood exporters worldwide, authorities know that they must succeed in fortifying its legal framework and improve traceability and transparency, Borton added.

He noted that Vietnam has taken a number of measures to combat IUU fishing, including installation of monitoring systems aboard vessels, cooperation with other Southeast Asia countries and transnational organisations, and participation in the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Port Measures.

Certainly, there remains a significant need for improvement, particularly in enforcing regulations and regularly updating the database of licensed fishing vessels, Borton added.

Read the full article on Vietnam+.