On December 19, 2019 in Hanoi, the Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish) and the Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) co-organized the “Consultation on Technology Innovation on Reducing Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Vietnam”. The goal of the workshop was to discuss and provide technical inputs for cooperation in the pilot implementation of e-technologies such as vessel tracking analysis and electronic catch documentation and traceability.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan – Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries

Photo: Workshop participants

The workshop attracted the participation of more than 51 delegates from many parties, including government representatives from the Directorate of Fisheries; the Fisheries Information Center; the Department of Scientific & Technological and International Cooperation; Department of Capture Fisheries; the Department of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development; the Department of Legislation and Inspection; and the Department of Fisheries Resources Surveillance; local-level managers from the Fisheries Sub-Departments of Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, and Ca Mau provinces; representatives from the fisheries associations of Vietnam Tuna Association (Vinatuna) and Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP); research institute representatives from the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF) and the Vietnam Institute of Fisheries Economics and Planning (VIFEP); technology experts in electronic catch documentation and traceability; representatives from domestic and international non-governmental organizations GFW, WWF, MCD; and technological equipment and software suppliers.

Mr. Le Van Ninh – Deputy Director General of the Fisheries Information Center

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung – Head of Department of Capture Fisheries

According to Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries, said, “Recent recommendations from the European Commission show that Vietnam is on track in its efforts to lift the yellow card. We are willing to learn and share with domestic and international organizations and experts to apply technologies and complete the information system in a timely manner, serving fisheries management decisions in the direction of sustainable modernization”.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Binh – The Fisheries Sub-Departments of Binh Dinh Province

Mr. Nguyen Viet Trieu – The Fisheries Sub-Departments of Ca Mau Province

Mr. Huynh Quang Huy – The Fisheries Sub-Departments of Binh Thuan Province

Workshop participants shared opportunities and challenges of applying electronic technologies for vessel monitoring, vessel data analysis, and traceability. According to the regulations effective from April 2020, all fishing vessels with an overall length of more than 15 meters must have a vessel monitoring system installed. Currently, it is mandatory for fishing vessels to choose to either document catch on paper or electronically, but it is difficult to manage this information.

Mr. Charles Kilgour – Director of analysis of Global Fishing Watch

Mr. Jaeyoon Park – Data Specialist – Global Fishing Watch

Experts from the Global Fishing Watch Organization (Global Fishing Watch – GFW) shared considerable experience in improving fisheries management through analysis of fishing vessel monitoring data, which is initially implemented in Indonesia and South Korea, as well as provided technical support for enhancing data analysis.

Mrs. Nguyen Thu Hue – Director of MCD

Mrs. Than Thi Hien – Deputy Director of MCD

Mr. Vu Dinh Dap – President of Vietnam Tuna Association; Mr. Duong Long Tri – Specialist in traceability and supervision of fishing vessels (left to right)

Mr. Nguyen Duc Long – Representative of company of VNPT Group

In the following, more detailed discussions and field consultations will be conducted to pilot some technologies suitable to local governance capacity, contributing to the development of effective fisheries management policies.