Soon complete electronic diary software system to support fishermen

The mining log is inaccurate.

According to the Kien Giang Fishing Port Management Board (Management Board), in the first 9 months of 2023, the unit inspected over 3,200 ships arriving at the port, of which more than 1,500 ships unloaded aquatic products weighing over 23,000 tons.

Mr. Ngo Van Lam - Director of the Management Board - said: At Tac Cau fishing port, 14 people are assigned to monitor 100% of the unloaded catch. At An Thoi port (Phu Quoc), the number of vessels is lower, so only 6 people are assigned. Regarding the inspection of fishing vessels entering and leaving the port, the unit coordinates with the Fisheries Inspection and Control Team, the Fisheries Inspection Sub-Department, and the Tay Yen Border Guard Post (An Bien district) to inspect fishing vessels over 15 meters long that dock to unload goods. At An Thoi port, they coordinate with the An Thoi Port Border Guard Post.

Mr. Lam added: According to regulations, fishing vessels 12 meters or longer must keep a fishing logbook and submit it to the fishing port organization before unloading seafood. At Tac Cau fishing port, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has established an inspection office, which has discovered cases where fishing vessels only record their logbooks after they come ashore. Some, due to limited skills or negligence in record-keeping, have incomplete records. This leads to difficulties in determining the yield of each type of seafood, hinders traceability of seafood, and complicates enforcement.

"For example, regulations stipulate continuous logbook keeping, requiring at least two net hauls for vessels operating for more than 24 hours. However, fishermen often record their catches throughout the day as a single haul, which is unreasonable. But authorities have no basis to take action, nor are there any specific guidelines or regulations in place," Mr. Lam shared.

Strict measures will be taken to deter similar incidents.

In recent times, the authorities in Kien Giang province have strengthened human resources and equipment for patrol and control operations, strictly handling violations related to IUU fishing at sea, as well as controlling the traceability of harvested seafood in accordance with the law. However, the process of verifying and certifying the origin of domestic seafood still has shortcomings that do not meet the EC's traceability requirements.

Mr. Le Van Tinh, Deputy Head of the Fisheries Department of Kien Giang province, said: From 2022 to the present, the Management Board has confirmed more than 200 certificates of origin for harvested aquatic products with a volume of approximately over 5,700 tons, and the Department has certified over 200 certificates of origin for harvested aquatic products with a volume of over 2,000 tons. Relevant ministries, sectors, and Kien Giang province have organized working groups to inspect the work of confirming harvested aquatic products with the Management Board and the work of certifying the origin of harvested aquatic products with the Department.

According to the Sub-Department, some shortcomings include limited qualifications of captains and crew members, incomplete and inaccurate information in fishing logbooks; fishing vessels operating with expired fishing licenses, especially expired fishing vessel safety certificates; and fishing in unauthorized areas, making the assessment process difficult...

Mr. Ngo Van Lam - Director of the Management Board - said that the solution is to increase patrols and inspections at sea with operating vessels, they record whether they are safe or not. In case of violations, they will be strictly punished to deter.

“When authorities detect a shipment, they coordinate and inform the fishing port to monitor it upon arrival at the port, facilitating origin verification and ensuring proper documentation for export. Additionally, we recommend that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development promptly finalize the electronic logbook software system to reduce the difficulties fishermen face in recording their catch,” Mr. Lam shared.

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