U.S.-VIETNAM FISHERIES BILATERAL TALKS: FURTHER

UNCLAS HANOI 001417

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, OES - TINKHAM/GOLDBERG
NOAA FOR REGULATORY AFFAIRS/REBECCA LENT
NOAA FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - JUSTI
NOAA FOR INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES - MORAN/SCHNEIDER
NOAA FOR FISHERIES ALASKA CENTER/LOH-LEE LOW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS EIND ETRD VM
SUBJECT: U.S.-VIETNAM FISHERIES BILATERAL TALKS: FURTHER
COOPERATION DESIRED


Do not post on the internet.


1. Summary. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Affairs Dr.
Rececca Lent led a four-person NOAA delegation to attend the
U.S-Vietnam Fisheries Bilateral talks in Hanoi on May 23-24,

2005. Both parties highlighted the good cooperation between
Vietnam and United States on fisheries issues and pledged
future scientific cooperation in four main areas: fisheries
oceanography; satellite remotely sensed oceanographic data;
coral reef research; and sea turtle satellite tracking. The
Vietnamese Ministry of Fisheries (MOFI) also stated that it
will voluntarily impose a 1.7 million ton harvest cap on the
offshore fishing industry and that its top priority in
Vietnam is developing the country's aquaculture industry.
End Summary.


2. On May 23-24, NOAA's NMFS Dr. Rebecca Lent led a four-
person NOAA delegation to Hanoi to attend the U.S.-Vietnam
Fisheries Bilateral talks in Hanoi on May 23-24, 2005.
Other members of the delegation included Dr. Gary Loh-Lee
Low, Senior Fisheries Biologist; Mr. Greg Schneider, Trade
Specialist; and Mr. Patrick Moran, Foreign Affairs
Specialist. Embassy S&T Officer accompanied the U.S. team
to all of its meetings. The Vietnamese delegation was led
by Dr. Vu Van Trieu, Acting Director General, International
Cooperative Department, MOFI. Representatives from MOFI and
NMFS reported on the status of scientific exchanges between
the two countries, including in the areas of stock
assessment methodology, sea turtle tagging, fisheries
oceanography and remote satellite sensing data.


3. The United States presented an overview of the U.S. and
international fisheries industry and explained the structure
of the U.S. fishery management and regulatory system. MOFI
stated that its top fisheries priority is developing
Vietnam's aquaculture industry, especially shrimp and
seafood exports. MOFI also stated that it will voluntarily
impose a 1.7 million ton harvest cap on the offshore fishing
industry to prevent overfishing of its natural resources.
MOFI admitted, however, that it lacked the human resource
and management capacity to protect its natural resources and
requested U.S. support to conduct fishery observer training,
seafood safety and inspection seminars, and vessel safety
enforcement training. In response to U.S. country of origin
labeling requirements for seafood products entering the
U.S., MOFI asked NOAA for further guidance to comply with
this requirement.


4. Both parties agreed that further cooperation in the
areas of visits, training workshops and support for
fisheries conferences were important. However, NOAA
stressed that funding for such endeavors was limited and
that it could only act as a "facilitator" to identify
funding sources with other U.S. government agencies,
research institutions, and U.S. marine science universities.
Vietnam specifically requested technical assistance in the
development of Specific Pathogen Free shrimp stocks for
aquaculture, genetic work on aquaculture species, and import
assistance for live mollusks. MOFI also suggested that NOAA
facilitate a Vietnamese fisheries group to visit Hawaii in
Winter 2006. The U.S. agreed to host the Vietnamese
fisheries group during the upcoming Western Central Pacific
Fishery Council (WestPac) meeting and promised to introduce
the group to the Pacific Island Regional Office, Pacific
Island Science Center, NOAA offices, and possibly the
University of Hawaii. The U.S. also mentioned that during
the proposed it will make presentations about the legal
aspects of fisheries management in the United States,
including the role of legislations, implementing
regulations, guidelines, and community-based management.


5. The delegation also discussed the upcoming 2006 workshop
in Vietnam on "Techniques for Research and Survey
Methodology on Marine Resources." This workshop, scheduled
just prior to the Pacific Rim Conference on March 20, 2006,
will be expanded to include a broader participation by
experts from Asia. The United States promised provide
logistical support. Both Dr. Bill Hogarth and the
Vietnamese Minister of Fisheries will be the honorary co-
chairs and Dr. Vu Van Trieu and Dr. Rebecca Lent will be the
co-chairs for the Pacific Rim Conference. The U.S. will
also provide support for Vietnam to host an APEC Fisheries
Working Group on community-based management in 2006.
Pending the availability of scientists and funding, four
specific scientific projects both parties agreed to pursue


were: 1) fisheries oceanography; 2) satellite remotely
sensed oceanographic data; 3) coral reef research; and 4)
sea turtle satellite tracking.


6. The United States also requested Vietnam's support and
commitment in implementing several international and
regional agreements, including the UN Fish Stocks Agreement,
the FAO International Plan of Action and Sea Turtle
Guidelines, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission. MOFI officials were aware of these agreements
and understood that participation in these forums would help
ensure the goals of effective stewardship of marine
resources. However, MOFI made no firm commitment to
implementing these agreements during the bilateral meeting.


7. This cable was cleared by Patrick Moran, NOAA.

MARINE


NNNN