In Vietnam, coastal fisheries are considered by fishers and the government to

be over-exploited and the proportion of low value/trash fish in the total catch of

these fisheries, continue to rise. Low value/trash fish have contributed a large part

in the total catch of trawl fisheries. At the moment, there are no specific regulations

for trawl fisheries management as well as bycatch and discard reduction for these

fisheries in Vietnam. In addition, agencies such as the provincial Departments of

Capture Fisheries and Resource Protection have also lacked the resources of staff

or budget to provide the required management, monitoring, surveillance or

regulation enforcement in both Vietnam’s inshore and offshore waters. There is a

need to develop specific regulations and to strengthen monitoring, surveillance for

trawl fisheries in Vietnam. This report reviews existing national and international

legal, policy and institutional arrangements for the management of trawl fishing

operations in order to produce a first draft of a National Circular for trawl fisheries

in Vietnam. TOR/Purpose of mission/description of tasks

The objectives of this assignment are threefold (1) to review and analyze

Vietnam’s existing legal, policy and institutional arrangements for the management

of Vietnam’s trawl fishing operations, conservation and management activities to

reduce bycatch of trawl fisheries; (2) to analyse and identify potential gaps and

divergences between national and international/regional (especially those of the

FAO) legal and policy arrangements and requirements and identify how to improve

Vietnam’s legal, policy and institutional arrangements in order to enhance

compliance with international and regional requirements for trawl fisheries and

subsequent activities; and produce a check-list with these gaps and divergences as

well as recommendations to address them; and (3) to explore the issues/regimes of

trawl fisheries management in Vietnam in order to produce a first draft of a

practical and effective National Circular for trawl fisheries.

Nguyen, T. (2014). Consultancy Report A Review of Legal and Polict Frameworks and Development od A National Circular on Trawl Fisheries Management and By Catch Reduction in Vietnam. Samut Prakarn: Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.