Ha Tinh: 100% of fishing vessels equipped with eCDT

Strict fleet management: All fishing vessels equipped with eCDT

In a concerted national effort to lift the "yellow card" warning on captured fisheries, Ha Tinh has implemented a series of coordinated measures to tighten fleet management and enhance efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Recent results demonstrate the significant involvement of authorities at all levels and in coastal localities, particularly in the application of technology to manage and oversee fishing vessel operations.

According to the Ha Tinh Fisheries Sub-Department (under the Department of Agriculture and Environment), the province currently has 3,900 registered fishing vessels, all fully updated in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase). Among them, 270 vessels are between 12 m and under 15 m in length; 62 vessels are from 15 m to 24 m; and 3 vessels are 24 m or longer. The synchronized data enables authorities to monitor, control, and manage fishing activities in a transparent and effective manner.

The province continues to prioritize vessel inspection and the issuance of fishing licenses. Currently, 312 of 335 vessels have valid inspection certificates, representing over 92%. Regarding fishing licenses, 3,898 out of 3,900 vessels have been licensed, nearly 100%. Vessels not yet eligible for operation are included in the management list and are closely monitored regarding mooring locations, while being guided to complete the necessary procedures before going to sea.

Notably, Ha Tinh is among the localities that have performed exceptionally well in applying technology for seafood traceability. As of mid-March, all 3,900 vessels measuring 6 m or longer in the province have completed the installation and deployment of the electronic traceability software eCDT, achieving a 100% adoption rate.

Mr. Bui Tuan Son, Director of the Fisheries Sub-Department, stated that the implementation of eCDT software allows management agencies to easily monitor the processes of fishing vessels departing and returning to port, capture yields, and support traceability when necessary. This is a crucial requirement for a modern fisheries management system to meet the stringent standards of international markets.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, a fisherman from Loc Ha Commune, Ha Tinh Province, regularly operates in inshore waters. Previously, declarations for vessel entry and exit at Cua Sot Port were not fully executed. However, over the past 5-6 years, as authorities began requiring detailed reports on fishing areas, he has complied by installing Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and setting up eCDT for declarations.

"At first, it was unfamiliar, but we must comply to help lift the 'yellow card' as soon as possible. Fortunately, port officials, Border Guards, and Fisheries Surveillance officers have provided significant support, so we haven't encountered too many difficulties," said Mr. Minh.

Mr. Mai Van Luan, Director of the Ha Tinh Fisheries Port Management Board, reported that for over a week, in preparation for optimal conditions to work with the European Commission (EC) if requested, the province’s IUU Steering Committee Standing Office, led by Mr. Tran Huu Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, has been continuously inspecting and reviewing five task groups combating IUU fishing in localities.

“In addition to positive results, we focus on educating fishermen not to use explosives or banned substances for nearshore fishing, and not to fish in the wrong zones or routes, in order to protect marine resources, especially during the breeding season,” the port director emphasized.

Enhanced vessel monitoring

Alongside fleet record management, Ha Tinh places special emphasis on monitoring fishing vessels in the field. Currently, all 65 offshore fishing vessels in the province have been equipped with VMS tracking devices, achieving a 100% rate. Through this monitoring system, authorities can continuously track fishing vessel activities at sea.

Recently, through monitoring and supervision, the locality has not detected any fishing vessels crossing the permitted maritime boundaries, nor any vessels or fishermen engaging in illegal fishing in foreign waters. This is a positive sign, indicating that fishermen’s awareness and compliance with the law are steadily improving.

Another notable aspect of Ha Tinh’s efforts against IUU fishing is the strict management of vessels not meeting operational requirements. To date, the province still has 25 fishing vessels that are ineligible for operation, accounting for 0.64% of the fleet. For these vessels, the coastal commune and ward authorities have identified specific mooring locations and assigned staff to monitor and supervise them.

"Every day at 3:00 PM, local authorities must take photos of the locations of fishing vessels ineligible for operation using the TimeMax software for updates and reporting. This allows management agencies to strictly control the status of ineligible vessels, preventing cases of illicitly heading out to sea for fishing," shared Mr. Bui Tuan Son.

In addition, functional forces such as the Border Guards, Fisheries Surveillance, and Police have also strengthened coordination in patrolling, controlling, and handling violations. In 2025, the Border Guard forces organized hundreds of patrols at sea, in estuaries, and at fishing ports, processing numerous violation cases in the fisheries sector, thereby contributing to the enhanced effectiveness of law enforcement.

Alongside this, the province’s fisheries ports, such as Xuan Hoi, Cua Sot, and Cua Nhuong, have continued to strictly control fishing vessels entering and leaving the ports. From the beginning of 2026 to now, nearly 1,700 vessel arrivals and more than 1,660 departures have been recorded, with about 237 tons of seafood unloaded through the ports.

During the period when EC’s inspection team was working in Viet Nam, Ha Tinh authorities and units proactively assigned staff on 24-hour duty, prepared complete records and documents, and were ready to provide explanations whenever requested.