At Cua Sot fishing port (Thach Kim commune, Thach Ha), fisherman Ngo Van Tien - owner of ship HT 90219 - TS has gradually become proficient in using the electronic seafood traceability software eCDT VN, proactively declaring exports and imports right on his smartphone.
“At first, we were confused and didn't know how to use the app, but after being instructed a few times, I've gotten used to it and find it more convenient and time-saving than before,” Mr. Tien shared.
Not only Mr. Tien, many fishermen in the province are also gradually approaching the form of electronic declaration - something that was previously only done 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 the past time, in order to put the electronic seafood traceability system into synchronous operation, the unit has organized many training courses, directly guiding fishermen and ship owners on the process of using eCDT VN software with operations such as: declaring fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, entering and leaving ports, recording and submitting fishing logs, reporting output, creating application files for granting necessary certificates; increasing propaganda about the software when fishermen come to do procedures at the port;...
Since the beginning of 2024, in order to control fishing output and trace the origin of aquatic products - the most important factor to remove the IUU "yellow card" of the European Commission (EC), the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has officially deployed the "Electronic Aquatic Product Traceability System (eCDT VN)".
Currently, the Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Fisheries has granted 3,981 accounts to fishing vessels participating in exploitation; at the same time, administrative accounts have been set up for focal units in the management chain such as the Provincial Department of Fisheries (5 accounts), Fishing Ports and Fishing Vessel Storm Shelters (5 accounts) and the Provincial Border Guard (1 account). Through the application process, nearly 70% of fishing vessels calling at designated fishing ports in Ha Tinh have declared their entry and exit through this system, marking a new step forward in the digital transformation process of the fisheries sector. Management units have also conducted monitoring, evaluation, inspection, examination and reporting on the application.
According to the assessment, the application of the eCDT platform enables fishermen to self-declare import and export information; record the exploitation of aquatic species and catches in a transparent and quick manner.
For state management, thanks to data synchronization on the electronic platform, the coordination process between units such as the Management Board of Fishing Ports and Fishing Boat Storm Shelters, the Fisheries Sub-Department, the Border Guard Command... is more convenient. Relevant units can monitor vessel journeys, calculate port arrival frequency and average output by period; early detect abnormalities in fishing activities, serving the effective IUU prevention process.
Although this system brings many practical benefits, the implementation process in Ha Tinh still faces many difficulties. According to actual records, fishermen mainly use the system to send requests for export and departure from port; while the function of recording fishing logs - an important factor for traceability - has not been widely applied.
The main reason is that fishermen have limited technological skills, lack of supporting equipment and are hesitant to switch from paper declaration to digital platforms. In addition, in the actual implementation process, fishing activities at sea are inherently unstable; the environment on the ship is often humid, seawater can easily penetrate and damage electronic equipment while internet connection in many remote sea areas is not guaranteed, making it difficult to update data on the application. Fisherman Tran Van Tuan (Cam Xuyen) shared: “Using this technology is still new. We need more time to get used to it and have the conditions to invest in suitable equipment such as smartphones that can install the app.”
Faced with these difficulties, the Ha Tinh Department of Fisheries and related units have had many solutions to support fishermen. Since the beginning of 2025, the locality has increased the organization of training courses, sending staff to directly instruct fishermen, ship owners, and businesses on how to use the eCDT system at designated fishing ports. The training content does not only stop at software usage but also helps raise awareness of the role of traceability in sustainable fisheries development.
According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Toan - Head of the Department of Fisheries Exploitation Management (Provincial Fisheries Department), the implementation of the electronic seafood traceability system is an important step in the effort to remove the EC's "Yellow Card" warning. Through assessment, this tool brings many advantages, both increasing the effectiveness of state management in the field of exploited fisheries and creating favorable conditions for fishermen in the province. In the coming time, the province will continue to open training courses and provide instructions on how to use this platform for fishermen, ship owners, and businesses at designated fishing ports; pay attention to research and expand it to small fishing ports in the locality. At the same time, continue to monitor the operation of the system to recommend the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance to overcome existing problems and limitations in order to better support fishermen during the implementation process.
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 some difficulties in the initial stages, in the long term, eCDT will be an effective tool in improving the transparency and value of locally exploited aquatic products.
eCDT VN software is an electronic seafood traceability software system deployed by the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) to manage, monitor and verify the origin of exploited seafood, serving the requirements of international integration and compliance with regulations against IUU fishing. eCDT VN software integrates many functions to support the management of fishing activities. All data is stored and synthesized by the system, forming an information chain serving the traceability of origin, ensuring transparency.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/ngu-dan-ha-tinh-hoc-cach-chuyen-doi-so-post290738.html
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