Prime Minister Decision No. 208/QD-TTg on Approval of the Scheme of Converting Some Seafood Processing Impacts on Resources and Eco Environment.

This Scheme of Converting Some Seafood Processing Impacts on Resources and Eco Environment is a sectoral policy document covering the period of 2023-2030. The overall goals to 2030 include: Switching some fishing occupations that greatly affect resources, the environment and the ecosystem to fishing occupations that have less impact or moving a number of fishing vessels whose fishing profession has a great impact on the resources, environment and ecosystems to other fields except for exploitation in order to gradually rebalance the fishing force in line with the resilience and regeneration of aquatic resources; step by step improve the productivity, quality and efficiency of the fishing vessels in exploiting and protecting resources; improve the working environment and ensure that 100% of fishermen who change jobs have stable jobs and a guaranteed income after changing jobs.
The Scheme has set up the Vision to 2045 as: Vietnam has basically completed the transfer of fishing vessels for fishing, which greatly affects marine resources, environment and ecosystems of sea areas; contribute to the protection of aquatic resources, improve the efficiency of fishing vessel management, and stabilize the lives of fishermen; actively and responsibly participate in the effective and sustainable development of the fishing industry.
The policy document indicate that the scheme must be consistent with the Fisheries Law 2017 and the development orientation of the fisheries sector on the basis of rearranging and redistributing fishing vessels in line with the sustainable exploitation of aquatic resources; combat unreported and unregulated illegal fishing; consistent with the principles of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party; contribute to affirming the country's sovereignty over seas and islands. Tasks are proposed in the Scheme, including: promulgating specific local criteria in granting written approval for the conversion, building and replacement of local fishing vessels that must ensure safety, working and resting conditions for employees, using low fuel consumption, modernize equipment for exploitation and storage on board; do not add fishing occupations that have a great impact on aquatic resources, in line with the central and local development orientations for fishing; Reducing trawl fishing vessels with the largest length of 15 meters or more, fishing vessels aged from 15 years old in the period to 2025 and gradually decreasing in the period 2026 - 2030; Converting coastal occupations into fishing services, recreational fishing and other occupations; Conversion to aquaculture and aquaculture services for localities with potential for marine aquaculture development; etc.