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Instead of spending time travelling in person to the Tran De Fishing Port Management Board in Can Tho City to complete declaration procedures, one hour before docking, Le Hoai Thuong from Tran De Commune now only needs to submit his declaration via the Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability System (eCDT) installed on his mobile phone.

Instead of spending considerable time travelling in person to the Tran De Fishing Port Management Board in Can Tho City to complete declaration procedures, one hour before docking, Le Hoai Thuong (Tran De Commune) now only needs to submit the required information via the Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability System (eCDT) application installed on his mobile phone.

Coastal provinces and cities step up inspections and controls of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports to combat IUU fishing. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

By integrating key information such as catch volume and fishing grounds, the eCDT system not only enables Le Hoai Thuong to complete administrative procedures related to fishing vessel operations in a faster and more convenient manner, but also helps officials at the Tran De Fishing Port Management Board save time in inspecting, monitoring and validating procedures for vessels seeking entry to or departure from the port.

Le Hoai Thuong shared that submitting information via the software before docking allows the port management authority to access vessel details in advance, enabling timely communication and arrangements for berthing. “Previously, I had to spend time waiting because I needed to go to the port to register in advance. Now, that is no longer necessary,” he said.

Recognizing that the classification, registration, inspection, and issuance or renewal of licenses for eligible fishing vessels are among the key measures to strengthen fisheries management across the city, relevant agencies have coordinated to fully update data on 100 percent of fishing vessels and vessel owners’ citizen identification numbers into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase).

According to Lu Tan Hoa, Deputy Director of the municipal Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance Sub-Department, in the past, SMS notifications could be missed by vessel owners due to work commitments. However, with direct alert notifications, phones now ring immediately upon message delivery, ensuring that fishermen are promptly informed when their vessels lose connection to vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

The application of digital technologies has delivered multiple positive outcomes, enhancing the capacity to manage the fishing fleet, preventing and promptly addressing vessels at risk of IUU violations, and contributing to greater transparency in seafood traceability to support exports.

As a locality with a well-developed fisheries sector and a fishing fleet of over 780 vessels, Can Tho City is intensifying its management efforts to address fishing vessels at risk of IUU violations.

To ensure the successful implementation of comprehensive digitalization in fisheries exploitation, Can Tho City is focusing on removing “bottlenecks” related to infrastructure and technical capacity, while stepping up communication and awareness-raising efforts to change mindsets among fishermen directly engaged in offshore fishing.

Currently, Can Tho City has approximately 30,000 workers employed in fishing and fisheries exploitation. The city’s annual capture fisheries output exceeds 60,000 tonnes.

Stepping up the application of digital technologies and gradually advancing toward full digitalization not only helps local authorities effectively combat IUU fishing, but also provides an important foundation for Can Tho to progressively restructure its fisheries sector, contributing to the development of a sustainable, transparent and responsible fisheries industry.

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