The deployment of an electronic software system to trace the origin of aquatic products helps to enhance the efficiency of controlling and monitoring fishing vessels and fishing output, and ensure the publicity and transparency. This helps promote the development of sustainable and responsible fisheries and tackle shortcomings and limitations in tracing the origin according to the recommendations of the European Commission (EC), contributing to getting the 'yellow card' lifted.

Members of the Youth Union organisation of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development supporting fishermen in installing and using the traceability system for aquatic products. Photo: VAN HOANG

To prepare for offshore fishing trip at sea, Mrs. Huynh Thi Muoi, the owner of fishing boat DNa 90560TS in Ngu Hanh Son District, is present at the port operations team under the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf to complete exit procedures on the Electronic Catch Documentation And Traceability System in Vessel Control (eCDT VN). With eCDT VN, all information and data about fishing vessels, captains and crew members, and schedules are updated accurately and quickly.

According to Mrs. Muoi, the eCDT VN software is not too complicated, very convenient and useful for fishermen. Declaring information to carry out exit and entry procedures through this software helps her and many other ship owners and captains to be more proactive and save time than before.

“Declaring on the phone application is easier and more convenient than before. However, many ship owners and captains are elderly and do not use smartphones, so they are not familiar with it and need support and inspection from the management unit,” Mrs. Muoi said.

Similarly, Mr. Cao Van Hoang, the owner of fishing boat DNa 90686TS in Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, said that as soon as his boat docked at the Tho Quang Fishing Port, he quickly completed the docking procedures on the eCDT VN system. The software has many features and operations that shorten the time compared to doing it on paper, such as declaring port departure/ arrival, and electronic records during the voyage, and confirming the sale of seafood raw materials after catching.

“Although the fishing log is integrated into the eCDT VN system, fishermen still have to rewrite it on paper due to mandatory requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to optimise the procedures so that fishermen can perform it completely on the system in order to shorten the time and create convenience for fishermen when exploiting and catching seafood” said Mr. Hoang.

Recently, the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the Department of Fisheries and related units to organise six training sessions on the use of the eCDT VN software system for relevant agencies, units, organisations and individuals. The integration of the eCDT VN app into the management system will help specialised units control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, determine the output at the port associated with fishermen's seafood exploitation logs, and ensure transparency and accuracy.

The Department has also directed the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf to regularly disseminate and guide ship owners and captains about the use of the eCDT VN software system to declare when ships enter and exit the port. It has arranged a force on duty 24/7 at the port operations team to guide and support ship owners and captains to make electronic declarations using eCDT VN when entering and exiting ports.

Staff of the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf instructing fishermen on how to use electronic software. Photo: VAN HOANG

Mr. Nguyen Lai, Head of the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf, informed that currently, 100% of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports must declare on the eCDT VN software system to be able to handle the following procedures. After being instructed, most ship owners and captains strictly comply with the declaration and use the software proficiently. This helps facilitate the monitoring and supervision of fishing vessel activities quickly, accurately, and transparently; reduce the time for ship owners and captains to declare; and overcome common errors when declaring through previous forms.

“Information of ships entering and leaving ports is displayed on the system, making it very convenient for management work. Therefore, it is necessary to promote propaganda work so that fishermen understand and deploy the application, thereby creating synchronisation in management between localities. The management board is actively supporting the installation of the application and providing guidance to fishing boat owners, captains or relatives of fishing boat owners to complete procedures for docking and leaving the Tho Quang Fishing Port” Mr. Lai shared.

Mr. Luu Quang Khanh, Head of the Fisheries Sub-Department, said that the implementation of the eCDT VN software system has brought many positive results, but there are still many limitations and difficulties.

For instance, some procedures are still required to be done by paper documents, so people and fishing port management units still have to update, declare information, and create paper documents according to regulations as before.

On the other hand, the operating environment on fishing boats is humid, and internet connection is limited, causing the difficulties in guidance and implementation work. Also, regulations on the use of the electronic software system to trace the origin of aquatic products have not been legalised and there are no sanctions, so it is difficult to force and require boat owners and captains to use it.

Mr. Khanh proposed the management and development agency to supplement and complete all functions of the software to facilitate users. In particular, the importance will be attached to legalising the use of the software and having sanctions to create consistency and convenience among fishermen and boat owners.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG