New image at the sea gate
On July 7, at Lach Quen fishing port (Quynh Luu district), the seafood unloading area was bustling. While the crew members were busy bringing fish ashore after a long sea voyage, Mr. To Huy Hung - owner of the NA 92888 TS ship was attentively performing traceability operations on his smartphone. He was declaring import and export, catch volume and the ship's route to the port via the eCDT software.
“At first, I was confused, not knowing how to access the app, what items to declare. But after being guided by port officials a few times, I am now used to it. Electronic declaration saves time,” said Mr. Hung.
Not only Mr. Hung, but also more and more fishermen in Nghe An are gradually approaching and mastering the eCDT software. From the habit of handwriting their travel logs, catch and procedures at the port, they have gradually switched to digital operations on smartphones, although most of them are still unfamiliar with technology.
Although the initial effectiveness is clear, the implementation of eCDT in Nghe An still faces many difficulties. First of all, the human factor - most fishermen are not familiar with digital technology , and their skills in using equipment are limited. Moreover, many people use old smartphones, which do not have enough configuration to install the application, or are often damaged due to humid working conditions, and seawater corrodes the equipment.
In addition, when ships operate in offshore areas, the internet signal is weak or absent, leading to data updates being interrupted. Meanwhile, the eCDT software requires data declarations quite frequently, if not done on schedule, it can affect the confirmation of output after the voyage.
“I have only used a smartphone for a few years now, and I am still clumsy when using apps. I have been at sea for many days without internet signal so I cannot update. I can only declare when I get back to the fishing port,” said an elderly fisherman at Lach Quen fishing port.
Towards a modern fishery
One of the key objectives of the eCDT system implementation is to serve the process of removing the IUU “yellow card” that the EC applied to Vietnamese seafood many years ago. The EC requires countries exporting seafood to Europe to demonstrate clear origin, no illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
In Nghe An, the application of eCDT software has created a transparent data chain to confirm output and issue certificates of origin to purchasing enterprises. Thanks to that, the procedure time is faster, reducing pressure on both management agencies and people. This is an important condition to help aquatic products exploited in Nghe An reach the international market at more competitive prices.
According to Mr. Phan Tien Chuong - Director of Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board, to ensure the traceability is implemented synchronously and effectively, the unit has organized many training courses, providing direct guidance to fishermen, ship owners, and businesses on the process of using eCDT software. Training content includes declaring fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, updating output, creating fishing logs, creating files to request output confirmation, and certifying the origin of aquatic products.
“Since the beginning of 2024, we have issued more than 800 software accounts to fishing vessels in the area. At designated fishing ports, most fishermen have applied the electronic declaration form. This is a big step forward, affirming the province's determination to digitally transform the fisheries sector,” Mr. Chuong affirmed.
With eCDT software, fishermen can proactively declare their journeys and catches in a transparent and fast manner. Management units such as the Department of Fisheries, the Border Guard Command, the Management Board of Fishing Ports and Storm Shelters can update data in real time, easily monitor fishing vessels and detect unusual signs in fishing activities.
“Previously, each time we requested production confirmation, we had to spend half a day writing by hand and waiting for the staff to check. Now, with just a few steps on the software, the data is available. Certification for businesses is also convenient and quick,” Mr. Chuong added.
The implementation in Nghe An shows that eCDT software is not only a temporary solution to remove the IUU “yellow card”, but also a fundamental tool towards modernizing fisheries management. When all exploitation activities - from departure, fishing, landing, to consumption - are digitized and systematically stored, it will create a transparent value chain, enhancing the reputation and value of Vietnamese marine products.
Nghe An is a province with a large fishing fleet, with more than 3,400 vessels, of which more than 1,500 are over 12m long. Therefore, the number of vessels returning to port to unload seafood after exploitation is quite large.
Digital transformation is an inevitable trend. Although there are many difficulties, if fishermen and management agencies work together, we will build a sustainable, modern fishing industry that is competitive in the international market.
Mr. Phan Tien Chuong - Director of Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board
Source: https://baonghean.vn/ngu-dan-nghe-an-chuyen-doi-so-cap-nhat-tung-chuyen-ca-luot-tau-tren-phan-mem-ecdt-10301840.html
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