Tighten management of seafood procurement activities.

As the fisheries sector strives to take the final steps to have the European Commission's "yellow card" lifted, tightening the management of seafood procurement from port to processing is considered the most crucial link to ensure transparency and sustainable development.

We purchase seafood harvested at Hai Chau Fishing Port, Ngoc Son Ward.

Unlike before, when fishermen and boat owners would typically unload their catch at traditional, convenient ports, trade is now strictly controlled through a multi-layered monitoring system; products are sold at designated fishing ports. Currently, Thanh Hoa province has four designated fishing ports: Hoa Loc, Lach Hoi, Lach Bang, and Hai Chau, which implement inspection, control of fishing vessels, and traceability on the eCDT system. At these major fishing ports, the atmosphere of seafood purchasing in the early days of 2026 was extremely busy but orderly. Not only were fishermen and boat owners rushing to unload their catch, but many small traders and owners of fishing logistics facilities also came to buy goods, feeling secure knowing that the harvested products were strictly controlled.

Arriving at Hai Chau fishing port in Ngoc Son ward after dozens of days at sea, Mr. Le Xuan Bien, owner of the TH 92856-TS vessel, residing in Thach Bac village, Tien Trang commune, said: "After being informed by the authorities and local agencies, we understand the benefits of keeping a logbook of our fishing trips, docking, and controlling the origin of seafood. Therefore, 100% of my family's fishing trips always dock at major ports as required. At the same time, we fully comply with port entry and exit requirements and present our fishing logbook, thanks to which our products are certified for origin and suitable for purchase by large establishments and factories.”

Coastal sectors and localities have encouraged seafood purchasing establishments and businesses to sign commitments not to purchase seafood from fishing vessels that lack "three documents" (no registration, no inspection certificate, and no license). Before unloading, purchasing establishments must verify the fishing log and vessel identification number against the online database system. Any shipment that cannot prove its legal origin will be refused entry to port and processed according to regulations.

To contribute to tightening the management of seafood procurement in accordance with regulations, the agricultural sector and the Thanh Hoa Fisheries Port Management and Vessel Registration Board have thoroughly implemented electronic traceability software. Instead of handwritten documents that are easily erased, purchasing agents now use QR codes to manage each shipment. According to statistics, from January 1, 2026 to January 16, 2026, the province's designated ports recorded 1,110 entries/exits of 823 vessels using the eCDT system. The volume of harvested seafood unloaded at the ports reached 794 tons.

Through verification and cross-checking of catch volume, species, docking times, and vessel numbers, the information is immediately updated to the management system of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Marine and Fisheries. This helps authorities easily conduct post-audits and prevent the "legalization" of documents for illegally caught seafood.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang, Head of Administration and General Affairs Department, FXPT Seafood Import-Export Co., Ltd., Sam Son Ward, said: “Currently, our company's products are favored by many countries because we have proven the origin of our raw materials through certificates from relevant authorities. While strict initial procedures may cause some difficulties for boat owners and fishermen, in the long run, this is the only way for Thanh Hoa seafood to be exported to demanding markets like the EU and the US at high prices. We fully support the transparency of origin.”

According to statistics, Thanh Hoa province currently has 6,214 fishing vessels. To date, 100% of vessels have been registered and updated on Vnfishbase; 99.2% of vessels have been licensed for fishing. The installation and use of vessel tracking devices during fishing operations are strictly implemented, ensuring compliance with regulations. As a result, by January 20th, Thanh Hoa province had completed all 19 assigned tasks in combating IUU fishing; no vessels were found to be in violation; law enforcement was strengthened, promptly verifying and handling vessels that lost VMS connectivity or exceeded permitted boundaries at sea; and the province strictly managed and monitored mooring locations, capturing images of fishing vessels that did not meet operating requirements.

Mr. Le Van Sang, Deputy Head of the Thanh Hoa Department of Marine and Fisheries, said: "Currently, Thanh Hoa province is doing a good job of controlling the loading, unloading, purchasing, provision of logistics services, and traceability of seafood. This is a practical step to gradually control and strictly enforce regulations against IUU fishing, aiming to lift the EC's yellow card by 2026 and build a transparent and sustainable fisheries industry."

Text and photos: Le Hoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/siet-chat-quan-ly-hoat-dong-thu-mua-thuy-san-khai-thac-276278.htm