Vietnam says it wants to tighten its fishing laws to stop local fishermen from poaching in the territorial waters of Pacific Island countries.
Vietnamese fishing boats. Photo: AFP
Over the past two years, so-called blue boats from Vietnam have been caught in places like New Caledonia and Solomon Islands with hauls of mainly beche-de-mer.
In an interview with Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, Vietnam's deputy agriculture minister Vu Van Tam said his government was concerned about illegal fishing, which last year led the European Union to issue Vietnam a yellow card as a warning.
To restore the EU's green card, the minister said Vietnam was adjusting policies while seeking co-operation with countries, such as Australia and the Philippines.
In relation to New Caledonia, Mr Vu said he would like to reach a co-operation accord in aquaculture, which is a strong sector in Vietnam.
Mr Vu said poaching was the result of ignorance of the law of what he calls village fishermen.
He said other factors were a fish shortage in local waters and the push by China into the archipelagoes of the South China Sea.