At Cua Sot fishing port (Thach Kim commune, Thach Ha district), fisherman Ngo Van Tien - owner of the vessel HT 90219 - TS - has gradually become proficient in using the eCDT VN electronic seafood traceability software, proactively declaring exports and imports directly on his smartphone.
"Initially, we were confused and didn't know how to use the app, but after a few tutorials, I've gotten used to it and find it convenient and time-saving," Tiến shared.
Tien is not alone; many fishermen in the province are gradually adopting electronic reporting – something they were previously only familiar with doing on paper.
According to Mr. Than Quoc Te, Deputy Director of the Management Board of Fishing Ports and Storm Shelters for Fishing Vessels in Ha Tinh, in order to put the electronic seafood traceability system into operation synchronously, the unit has organized many training courses and provided direct guidance to fishermen and ship owners on the process of using the eCDT VN software with operations such as: declaring fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, recording and submitting fishing logs, reporting production, creating dossiers to request the issuance of necessary certificates; strengthening propaganda about the software when fishermen come to complete procedures at the port;…
Since the beginning of 2024, in order to serve the work of controlling the production of harvested seafood and tracing the origin of seafood – a top priority for lifting the European Commission's (EC) IUU "yellow card" – the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has officially implemented the "Electronic Seafood Traceability System (eCDT VN)".
Currently, the Ha Tinh Provincial Fisheries Department has issued 3,981 accounts to fishing vessels participating in fishing operations; and has also established administrative accounts for key units in the management chain such as the Provincial Fisheries Department (5 accounts), fishing ports and fishing vessel shelters (5 accounts), and the Provincial Border Guard (1 account). Through the implementation process, nearly 70% of fishing vessels docking at designated fishing ports in Ha Tinh have declared their entry and exit from ports and berths through this system, marking a new step in the digital transformation of the fisheries sector. Management units have also conducted monitoring, evaluation, and reporting using the application.
According to assessments, the application of the eCDT platform facilitates fishermen in self-declaring import and export information; and recording fishing logs of types and quantities of seafood caught in a transparent and timely manner.
For state management, thanks to the synchronization of data on the electronic platform, coordination between units such as the Management Board of Fishing Ports and Fishing Vessel Anchorage Areas, the Fisheries Sub-Department, the Border Guard Command, etc., is more convenient. Relevant units can monitor vessel movements, statistically analyze port arrival frequency and average catch per period; and detect abnormalities in fishing operations early, contributing to effective IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing prevention.
Although this system offers many practical benefits, its implementation in Ha Tinh still faces considerable difficulties. According to observations, fishermen mainly use the system to submit requests for port departures and arrivals; while the function of recording fishing logs – a crucial element for traceability – has not been widely adopted.
The main reasons stem from fishermen's limited technological skills, lack of supporting equipment, and hesitation in transitioning from paper-based reporting to digital platforms. Furthermore, in practice, the unstable conditions of offshore fishing, the often damp environment on board, and the risk of seawater damage to electronic equipment, coupled with unreliable internet connectivity in many remote areas, make updating data on the application difficult. Fisherman Tran Van Tuan (Cam Xuyen) shared: “This technology is still new to us. We need more time to get used to it and to invest in suitable equipment such as smartphones that can install the app.”
Faced with these difficulties, the Fisheries Department of Ha Tinh province and related units have implemented many solutions to support fishermen. From the beginning of 2025 to the present, the locality has intensified the organization of training courses and assigned officials to directly guide fishermen, boat owners, and businesses at designated fishing ports on the use of the eCDT system. The training content not only focuses on software operation but also helps raise awareness of the role of traceability in sustainable fisheries development.
According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Toan, Head of the Fisheries Exploitation Management Department (Provincial Fisheries Sub-Department), the implementation of the electronic seafood traceability system is a significant step in the effort to remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning. Assessment shows that this tool offers many advantages, both increasing the effectiveness of state management in the fisheries sector and facilitating the work of fishermen in the province. In the future, the province will continue to organize training courses and provide guidance on using this platform for fishermen, boat owners, and businesses at designated fishing ports; and will focus on researching expansion to smaller fishing ports in the locality. At the same time, the province will continue to monitor the system's operation to recommend that the Fisheries Department and the Fisheries Inspection Department address any remaining shortcomings and limitations in order to better support fishermen during implementation.
The deployment of eCDT software in Ha Tinh not only meets the urgent requirements in the roadmap to remove the IUU "yellow card" but also opens up a new direction in modernizing fisheries management. Although there are still some difficulties in the initial stage, in the long run, eCDT will be an effective tool in enhancing the transparency and value of local fisheries.
eCDT VN software is an electronic seafood traceability system implemented by the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) to manage, monitor, and verify the origin of harvested seafood, serving the requirements of international integration and compliance with regulations against IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing. eCDT VN software integrates many functions to support the management of seafood harvesting activities. All data is stored and aggregated by the system, forming a chain of information for traceability, ensuring transparency.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/ngu-dan-ha-tinh-hoc-cach-chuyen-doi-so-post290738.html
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