Ministry of Science and Technology Reviews Tech Infrastructure to Combat IUU Fishing in Ho Chi Minh City

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The working group, led by the Department of Telecommunications, worked with relevant municipal agencies to inspect the provision of vessel monitoring system (VMS) equipment and services, assess connectivity quality, and evaluate the operational effectiveness of information technology systems supporting vessel monitoring.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of the Department of Telecommunications and head of the working group, noted that the implementation process has revealed significant shortcomings, including fragmented management software systems and a lack of synchronization. He said data are not interconnected across systems, creating difficulties in monitoring and management.

Fishing vessels from Long Hai Commune (Ho Chi Minh City) that do not meet operational requirements are being gathered at Lua Ban Dock in Phuoc Thai Hamlet, Long Hai Commune for management purposes. (Photo: Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper)

Some fishing vessels continue to experience prolonged signal loss, while the installation of two to three devices on a single vessel further complicates management. In addition, vessels anchoring at sea are still required to maintain vessel monitoring system (VMS) signals, resulting in increased power consumption, reduced battery lifespan, and slow or inaccurate data transmission from service providers to the central system.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department, port management software and electronic fishing logbooks have been deployed but remain unconnected. Currently, four to five systems operate in parallel without data synchronization. The transition from paper-based to electronic logbooks has caused confusion among many fishermen, particularly when transmitting data in areas with weak signal coverage. Moreover, the port management software currently updates only penalty outcomes and has yet to integrate data sharing for on-the-spot sanctions.

The fisheries inspection force has recommended adjusting the frequency of voyage reports to better reflect actual conditions and applying flexible measures in cases of signal loss caused by adverse weather. They also proposed supplementing verification procedures through equipment usage logs, promoting compensatory data transmission when vessels return to port, and encouraging the installation of backup satellite communication equipment.

Representatives of the working group said the visit aimed to gather feedback on grassroots-level challenges in order to promptly address technical issues, require telecommunications providers to upgrade systems and infrastructure, and advise the Government and relevant ministries and agencies on improving mechanisms and policies. These efforts are intended to enhance the effectiveness of fisheries management and contribute to the early removal of the European Commission’s IUU “yellow card."

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