Removing IUU 'yellow card': Disorganized electronic fishing logbooks

A persistent lack of coordination

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, only 50 percent of fishing vessels nationwide have adopted the use of electronic fishing logbooks. Additionally, there are several concerns regarding the quality of these logbooks, which are characterized by involuntary compliance and retroactive entries. On the other hand, the management of fishery output and origin traceability is relatively limited, with numerous unaddressed issues.

The European Commission has recommended Vietnam to promptly deploy a unified, synchronized and interconnected electronic fishing logbook and origin tracing system, without allowance for modifications. Additionally, the Commission mandates that Vietnamese fishing ports must update data on fishery output on a daily basis.

However, the implementation of this task in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has faced numerous obstacles over the last six months. The majority of local governments have either not initiated the implementation process, or have only conducted limited pilot programs on a select number of fishing vessels.

According to Mr. Nguyen Bi, Head of the Department of Fisheries Exploitation and Development Management at the Ba Ria - Vung Tau province's Sub-department of Fisheries, the province currently supports two electronic fishing logbook software providers: Syenergy And Development Viet Company Limited (based in Vung Tau city) and MECOM - Marine Equipment Joint Stock Company (based in Ho Chi Minh city).

Each company is piloting the implementation of electronic logbooks for approximately 10 fishing vessels per company, with significant differences between the two companies' approaches. Syenergy And Development Viet Company is utilizing a mobile app as an electronic fishing logbook. Conversely, MECOM instructs fishermen to input data directly into their device. At the end of each fishing trip, the vessel captain will print out the electronic fishing logbook to submit to the fishing port, or ask for assistance from the port officers.

However, these software solutions have not been approved by fishing ports as replacements for the current manual logbooks because they have not been integrated into the national fisheries database. As a result, the local implementation of electronic fishing logbooks is currently limited to the pilot testing stage, which is often accompanied by the indifferent compliance of vessel captains.

At the end of February 2024, the Directorate of Fisheries conducted training sessions for fishing ports, sub-departments of fisheries, and border guard stations nationwide on the implementation of eCDT VN - an electronic fishing logbook and origin tracing software system.

Mr. Truong Van Sanh, Deputy Director of Cat Lo fishing port in Vung Tau city, reported that after receiving training from the Directorate of Fisheries, Cat Lo fishing port has incorporated the eCDT VN software system into its daily operations since March 2024.

Accordingly, all local fishing vessels' activities, including departure, arrival, logging of fishing activities, declaration and confirmation of harvested fishery output, and origin tracing, are digitized in a transparent manner with this software system. Notably, fishermen can declare and register the entry and exit of their fishing vessels directly on their phones using the eCDT VN application, regardless of their location. Subsequently, ports and border guard stations will review these applications on the software; and if requirements are met, the fishing vessels will be authorized for departure or docking.

Electronic fishing logbook entries are also created via the mobile application. For manually created entries, the vessel captain must photograph the handwritten entries, and upload them to the eCDT VN software system.

Upon arrival at the port, on-site officers will monitor the loading and unloading activities, enter the quantity of the unloaded seafood into the software, and confirm the origin of the seafood for the at the vessel owner's request. Local Sub-departments of Fisheries will also handle the origin certification process for seafood shipments to the EU through the software.

"However, we are facing considerable challenges as eCDT VN is only compatible with Android-based phones, whereas the software system is experiencing errors on iOS-based phones," Mr. Nguyen Bi reported.

Rapid and coordinated deployment

Additionally, the implementation of electronic fishing logbooks is stagnant, as fishermen are unfamiliar with using digital technology to input data into mobile applications.

According to various fishermen, maintaining paper-based fishing logbooks during adverse weather conditions, such as rough seas and strong winds, poses considerable challenges. In contrast, the utilization of electronic logbooks is relatively simple and effective. Whenever fishermen cast their nets, they only need to access the pre-installed software, and the system will automatically update information pertaining to coordinates, vessel position, and fish species.

Mr. Ngo Van Cu, captain of fishing vessel BV 94666 TS (Incomap port, Vung Tau City), revealed that he has been using the electronic fishing logbook application on his phone for more than a year. Despite being more challenging to access and operate compared to manual logbook keeping due to technological constraints, fishermen has regarded the application as more convenient. "Now, whenever I reach a fishing ground, I just need to input the data before casting the net. By simply pressing a few buttons, the application displays my vessel's precise latitude and longitude," Mr. Cu explained.

Similarly, fisherman Nguyen Van Truc, owner of fishing vessel BV 6864 TS in Binh Chau commune, Xuyen Moc district, reported that he has been utilizing electronic fishing logbooks for his fishing vessel since 2023. Additionally, Binh Chau Fishing Port supports the printing of electronic fishing logbooks upon arrival for loading and unloading seafood. Electronic fishing logbooks has allowed Mr. Truc to save a considerable amount of time, and ensure compliance with regulations before departure and upon arrival.

"All the information is readily available on the phone, we just need to input data at the correct time. I no longer have to worry about rough weather conditions. As long as I input data at the correct time and maintain stable phone reception, the rest of the process is already accounted for," Mr. Truc shared.

The widespread adoption of electronic fishing logbooks will allow stakeholders, including fisheries management agencies, fishermen, and businesses, to implement seafood origin tracing and comply with import country regulations. However, in spite of these advantages, the majority of fishing ports in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province have failed to implement the software system for various reasons.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien has also cautioned the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the stagnated implementation of electronic fishing logbooks for fishermen. Although various fishing ports across the province have implemented seafood origin tracing using the eCDT VN software, only Cat Lo port has fully displayed the entry and exit of its vessels on the software.

With regards to the difficulties faced by local governments in implementing electronic fishing logbooks, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized the necessity of overcoming challenges with determination. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will accompany Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in accelerating and synchronizing the implementation of electronic fishing logbooks at ports and vessels.

According to Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, this agency has requested Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to allocate resources to implement eCDT. This task involves equipping ports and border guard stations, posts with Android-based mobile devices to support fishermen and businesses in implementation efforts.

The Directorate stands prepared to extend its support to regions in need. Namely, the agency will provide training on electronic fishing logbooks and origin tracing to fishermen and relevant agencies such as fishing ports, border guard stations, and local Sub-departments of Fisheries.

Mr. Luan added that the Directorate is urgently requesting its technical department to resolve this issue of iOS-based phones being unable to access the eCDT VN system.

"Within this April, the implementation of electronic fishing logbooks and origin tracing will be expedited nationwide, marking the conclusion of the pilot phase. During the implementation process, any emerging issues will be promptly tackled through proactive collaboration between the Directorate and local governments. Furthermore, electronic fishing logbook keepers looking to integrate into the national software system are encouraged to register with the Directorate of Fisheries, which will be similar to the vessel monitoring system," Mr. Luan informed.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial People's Committee, has instructed the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with fishing ports and other stakeholders, to urgently implement the adoption of electronic fishing logbooks. Accordingly, this task stands as a key priority ahead of the EC's upcoming inspection.