Dong Thap: Boosting digital transformation in fisheries management.

(DTO) On the morning of April 21, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Dong Thap province, chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee.

Comrade Nguyen Phuoc Thien delivered a speech giving directions at the meeting.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) of Dong Thap province, in recent times, localities in the area have implemented many solutions simultaneously, such as: strengthening the dissemination of legal regulations; strictly managing fishing vessels; controlling port entry and exit activities; carrying out registration, inspection, and licensing for fishing; and installing and maintaining vessel tracking systems (VMS).

Patrols, inspections, and enforcement of violations have been intensified, contributing to improved compliance awareness among fishermen.

The total number of registered fishing vessels in the province is 1,477. The locality has completed the licensing process for all 1,347 currently operating vessels that have been registered, inspected, and equipped with VMS, achieving a 100% rate. There are 130 fishing vessels that do not require license renewal or inspection renewal.

Notably, 100% of traceability records are processed through the eCDT system, ensuring that export shipments to Europe are free from violations. The province also strictly penalized 172 violations, collecting over 6.6 billion VND in fines, and there were no fishing vessels violating foreign waters.

However, the actual implementation process in Gia Thuan commune and My Tho ward still faces some difficulties and obstacles regarding funding for vocational retraining for fishermen as well as the cost of maintaining VMS equipment.

The head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment spoke at the meeting.

Some fishing vessels that are ineligible to operate or have been docked for extended periods remain unresolved, while the technical infrastructure for synchronizing data into the VNeID electronic identification system is still facing difficulties. In light of this situation, the Border Guard and the Provincial Police propose strengthening inter-agency coordination and strongly applying satellite technology and digital data to replace manual management methods...

In his remarks at the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Phuoc Thien instructed communes and wards to classify and definitively handle fishing vessels that do not meet operating requirements. Simultaneously, he called for close coordination with credit institutions to handle seized assets, clean up vessel data, and ensure transparency in management; a thorough review of the entire fleet equipped with VMS devices, especially those with a length of 12-15 meters. He also urged research and proposals for appropriate support policies to ensure that 100% of eligible fishing vessels are equipped with and maintain the connection of the devices as required.

Regarding technological solutions, Comrade Nguyen Phuoc Thien agreed to build an interconnected data system between fishing ports and functional forces such as Border Guard and Police to strictly control the entry and exit of fishing vessels. In particular, he emphasized promoting digital transformation in fisheries management, applying remote monitoring technology, satellite data, and warning systems to replace manual management methods.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Department of Construction, is urgently reviewing and assessing the current state of fishing ports, especially the sedimentation of waterways affecting fishing operations and rescue efforts, and will promptly report and propose specific solutions…

SOUTH - MIND

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/dong-thap-day-manh-chuyen-doi-so-trong-quan-ly-nghe-ca-a239895.html