Decision 523/QD-TTg 2022 Program on 5-year periodical overall survey, assessment of fisheries resources

DECISION

Approving the Program on 5-year periodical overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species nationwide through 2030^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 21, 2017 Law on Fisheries;

At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Program on 5-year periodical overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species nationwide through 2030 (below referred to as the Program) with the following contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS

1. The overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species is the State’s major task in the field of fisheries and must comply with the Strategy on sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy through 2030, with a vision toward 2045; the Strategy on Vietnam’s fisheries development through 2030, with a vision toward 2045; and other related specialized national master plans to protect and sustainably exploit fisheries resources and conserve biodiversity, contributing to sustainably developing the marine economy, ensuring livelihoods for fishermen communities, protecting legitimate rights and interests of the country as a coastal country in conformity with international law, positively contributing to maintaining the peaceful and stable environment on the sea; meeting the requirements of international economic integration and treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party; and conforming to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

2. The Program shall be implemented nationwide, ensuring the synchrony and scientificity with inter-regional and general issues taken into consideration as well as continuation from and integration with ongoing programs and schemes so as to improve effectiveness and economical use of state budget funds.

3. Results of the overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species must be timely, adequate, continuous, scientific and trustable and announced according to regulations, thus meeting the requirements of sustainable development of each region, geographical area and locality.

4. State budget funds will be prioritized for the overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in association with the mobilization of other lawful financial sources at home and abroad.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

The Program is aimed at providing information, data and scientific grounds for the management and sustainable use of fisheries resources.

2. Specific objectives

a/ To identify scientific grounds of fisheries resources, marine fisheries and habitats of marine species so as to propose solutions for planning, management, protection, exploitation, and sustainable development of fisheries resources and the Vietnam’s marine fisheries.

b/ To carry out  the overall assessment of the actual state, and changes in fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in Vietnam’s inland waters, and propose solutions for protection, exploitation and development of the inland fisheries in an efficient and sustainable manner.

c/ To provide information and data on biodiversity and fisheries resources in typical marine, coastal and near-island ecosystems (corals, mangrove forests, protection forests, sea grass, seaweed, alluvial grounds, estuaries, wetlands, etc.) serving the establishment, expansion and effective management of the systems of marine reserves, fisheries resources protection areas, areas where fishing is prohibited for a given period, and artificial habitats for aquatic species; and proposal of suitable management measures and plans.

d/ To regularly update marine fishing ground forecasts to improve the quality of fishing ground forecasting and operational efficiency of Vietnam’s offshore fishing fleets.

dd/ To provide scientific and practical grounds for specifying the list of fishing methods and fishing gears banned from use; list of endangered, rare and precious aquatic species; natural migratory routes of aquatic species; and catchable sizes of aquatic species in natural water bodies; and fishing quotas and allowable catches of each species or species group in each maritime zone in conformity with fisheries resources reserves.

III. CONTENTS OF THE PROGRAM

1. Orientations

a/ To carry out the survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in an overall and synchronous manner in maritime zones, inland waters, marine, coastal and near-island ecosystems, mangrove forests, protection forests, and wetland reserves.

b/ To carry out the survey and assessment of the biodiversity of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in marine ecosystems to serve as a basis for the establishment and expansion of marine reserves and fisheries resources protection areas and for maintenance and restoration of marine, coastal and near-island ecosystems.

c/ To supervise changes in fisheries resources and quality of habitats of aquatic species to ensure fishing outputs conform with allowable catches of fisheries resources; to build scientific and practical grounds to adjust the structures of fishing fleets and industry in an appropriate manner, contributing to sustainably developing the fisheries sector.

d/ To step by step improve survey methods and approaches to reach modern and advanced levels of the region and the world and concurrently suit Vietnam’s practical conditions.

2. Major tasks

a/ To develop and improve scientific grounds, methods, and sets of indicators for assessment and reference points in a synchronous and consistent manner so as to carry out surveys and obtain scientific grounds for management and sustainable use of fisheries resources; to update and improve procedures and techno-economic norms for carrying out the survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in conformity with Vietnam’s practical conditions.

b/ To carry out the overall survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in coastal areas, inshore areas, offshore areas, and inland waters every 5 years, together with annual surveys of commercial fishing carried out by provincial-level People’s Committees, to serve as a basis for proposing and organizing the implementation of solutions and plans on fisheries management suitable to the orientations for marine and coastal economic development and sustainable development of fisheries.

c/ To carry out the survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in typical marine ecosystems in coastal areas, near-island areas, special-use forests, protection forests, and wetlands to obtain grounds for proposing the expansion and establishment of marine reserves and fisheries resources protection areas, protection and restoration of marine, coastal and near-island ecosystems, as well as suitable regimes and plans on management of fisheries resources in special-use forests, protection forests and wetland reserves.

d/ To perform the tasks of overall survey of biodiversity and fisheries resources in deep-sea areas and detailed surveys in shoals and underwater cliffs and slopes (which were approved under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 28/QD-TTg of January 1, 2020, approving the key program on baseline surveys of marine and island resources and environment through 2030) so as to obtain grounds for protection and efficient and sustainable exploitation of these fisheries resources.

dd/ To survey and identify major fishing grounds and concentrated distribution areas of marine species having scientific-economic values; to collect and identify marine remote-sensing information, especially in inshore areas and offshore areas so as to develop and publicize fishing ground forecast bulletins to serve sea fishing activities and encourage fishermen to reach further out at sea and devote themselves to fishing, aiming to improve production efficiency and participate in national defense and security and protection of national sovereignty over sea and islands.

e/ To survey and identify natural migratory routes of aquatic species at sea and in coastal areas, and water bodies of main rivers and lakes so as to formulate and organize the implementation of plans on management of these species or species groups, ensuring the harmony and conformity with the development of other industries and compliance with law.

g/ To carry out periodic assessment, updating, and supplementation of the list of fishing methods and fishing gears banned from use; list of areas where fishing is prohibited for a given period; list of endangered, rare and precious aquatic species; list of endemic or indigenous aquatic species of high economic value; catchable sizes of aquatic species in natural water bodies and, on that basis, formulate and organize the implementation of suitable management plans and solutions.

h/ To apply advanced and modern science and technology, and survey and research methods; to enhance capacity and increase equipment for survey and research so as to meet requirements of the survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in Vietnam.

i/ To establish the system of digital platform-based databases, ensuring the integration, connection and transferability among ministries, sectors and localities; to update, improve, share, and use the national database on fisheries resources surveys, ensuring its integration with the national database on aquatic products and the national database on marine and island resources and environment.

IV. SOLUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Mechanisms and policies

a/ To improve legal grounds, procedures, legal norms, and techno-economic norms serving the survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

b/ To formulate a mechanism to encourage, and create favorable conditions for attracting, domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to provide resources and cooperate in survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

c/ To ensure the integration of general mechanisms and policies on baseline surveys of marine and island resources and environment into the tasks of survey and assessment of fisheries resources in marine areas under the Program.

2. Intensifying awareness and developing human resources

a/ To mobilize active participation and contribution of organizations, individuals, experts, scientists, and managers in ministries and sectors to implement the Program; to provide training so as to have a contingent of scientists and managers who possess high qualifications and meet requirements of the Program’s activities; to intensify the application of technologies and digital transformation to build capacity of the contingent of cadres engaged in survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species; to bring into full play state budget and aid funds for development of human resources serving the survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

b/ To take the initiative in cooperating with partner countries and international organizations that possess advanced and modern technologies and survey and assessment methods for the purposes of transfer and exchange and learn from these methods and technologies, meeting the requirements and tasks of surveying fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in Vietnam.

c/ To mobilize resources for building and developing surveying capacity and ability of application of advanced technologies for the contingent of scientists engaged in research, survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

d/ To intensify awareness of authorities, sectors and localities and related organizations and individuals about the position and role of survey and assessment of fisheries and habitats of aquatic species for sustainable development of the marine economy.

3. Increasing physical foundations, means and equipment serving the survey activities

To review, and make statistics of available physical foundations, means and equipment serving the Program; to invest in and upgrade physical foundations and modern technical equipment and technologies; to apply information technology and digital transformation in survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

4. Science and technology

a/ To apply advanced and modern technologies and techniques in survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

b/ To take the initiative in seeking and proposing partner countries and international organizations to provide financial and technical supports and share scientific advances and experience in carrying out survey of fisheries resources; to cooperate with regional countries in formulating a mechanism for sharing of data on fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in neighboring international marine zones and historical waters.

5. International cooperation

a/ To expand international cooperation in carrying out survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species with countries in the region and the world, especially neighboring countries in surveying and identifying resources of amphibian and long-distance migratory aquatic species so as to manage and efficiently and sustainably exploit these fisheries resources and comply with commitments and treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

b/ To intensify the exchange and sharing of international experience, make the best use of support from countries and international organizations in survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

c/ To prioritize cooperation in survey, research and assessment of resources from amphibian and long-distance migratory aquatic species, and cross-border migratory aquatic species to supplement scientific grounds in carrying out cooperation in management, exploitation, conservation and protection of these resources.

6. Coordination in, and examination, supervision and announcement of results of, surveys

a/ To reform mechanisms on organization, coordination, administration and assignment of specific responsibilities to ministries, sectors, localities and agencies performing tasks or implementing projects under the Program to enhance the effectiveness of the Program.

b/ To use and share survey results under regulations so as to promptly meet requirements of state management of fisheries at the central and local levels.

c/ Every 5 years, to announce survey results, and organize preliminary and final reviews of implementation of the Program and send reports on the Program’s implementation results to the Prime Minister.

7. Financial solutions

a/ Funds for implementation of the Program include state budget funds, investment capital from the private sector, aid, foreign partners’ funds for coordination in carrying out surveys and researches, and other lawful funding sources.

b/ The State shall allocate state budget funds for ministries, central agencies and localities according to the current regulations on state budget decentralization to implement this Decision, including their annually assigned current expenditures, investment capital according to  medium-term public investment plans and assigned annually capital; and capital allocated to national target programs and other programs and projects under the Law on the State Budget and other relevant laws.

V. PRIORITY TASKS AND PROJECTS (The details are provided in the Appendix to this Decision),

1. Task on improving scientific grounds and techno-economic norms serving the survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

2. Project on survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in Vietnam’s sea.

3. Project on survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in typical marine ecosystems in coastal areas, near-island areas, special-use forests, protection forests, and wetland reserves.

4. Project on survey of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in Vietnam’s inland.

5. Project on survey and identification of natural migration of aquatic species at sea, coastal areas and in inland water bodies of Vietnam.

6. Task on completing the national database on fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

VI. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and agencies, and provincial-level People’s Committees in, organizing the implementation of the Program.

b/ Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Program when so requested to ensure the security and safety at sea and on islands in the course of survey and investigation.

c/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in organizing preliminary and final reviews every 5 years, and announcing the implementation results of the Program under regulations, and report the situation and results of implementation of the Program to the Prime Minister.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ministries and sectors in effectively implementing the Program; ensuring effectiveness as well as consistency and synchronism with the key Program on baseline survey of marine and island resources and environment approved under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 28/QD-TTg of January 7, 2020.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall, based on the fund-balancing capacity of the central budget and proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and related ministries and sectors, sum up in the annual current expenditure estimates for submitting to competent authorities for balancing and allocating budget funds in accordance with the Law on the State Budget and guiding documents.

4.  The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall share survey data and statistical figures of total fishing outputs nationwide serving the assessment of fisheries resources and fishing activities; and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in appraising plans on performance of tasks under the Program which are related to a number of national statistical indicators under regulations.

5. Related ministries and sectors shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, proactively and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in effectively implementing the Program.

6. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall

a/ Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in effectively implementing projects and performing tasks under the Program.

b/ Organize in an effective manner annual surveys of commercial fishing, and specialized surveys of fisheries resources; and before December 20 every year, provide their survey reports and figures on commercial fishing activities to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development serving the analysis and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

c/ Formulate, and organize the implementation of, plans on survey and assessment of fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species in localities in conformity with the Program’s contents and tasks and local practical conditions; and submit to the provincial-level People’s Councils for allocating funds for performing tasks to be covered by local budgets according to the current regulations on state budget decentralization.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH

* The Appendix to this Decision is not translated.