Digitalization of seafood management and exploitation activities

With the goal of developing modern fisheries, in recent times, the province's fisheries sector has continuously changed its production methods, gradually applying digital technology to systematize management data and increase the efficiency of exploitation activities. From the initial results, the agricultural sector and localities have promoted propaganda and mobilized fishermen to apply technology in exploitation, helping to improve productivity and quality of aquatic products.

The application of digital technology on fishing vessels helps vessel management become more convenient and effective.

After a long trip at sea, fishing boat TH-90296 TS of Mr. Vien Dinh Hung, Quang Tien ward (Sam Son city) caught 5 tons of seafood, including many types of seafood with high economic value. This is the result of applying new equipment and technology to seafood exploitation. Mr. Hung said: "My family's boat is equipped with an identification machine, a vertical detector, and a scanner to detect fish flows. Therefore, fishing in stable weather is quite favorable, achieving high yields."

Although he is the owner of the TH-91099 TS ship, specializing in trawling in the Gulf of Tonkin, Mr. Duong Van Nhung in Sam Son City does not necessarily follow the ship out to sea to manage the fleet every time. With just a few operations on a smartphone with an Internet connection, he can monitor and guide the fishing journey for the crew and manage the amount of seafood exploited to proactively connect with the consumer unit when the ship is about to dock. Mr. Nhung said: "Since installing the VMS voyage monitoring device (GSHT) and the electronic seafood exploitation tracing system (eCDT), the ship owner does not necessarily have to follow the fishing boat out to sea to still know the exact location of the exploitation at sea and manage the exploitation output. These are advanced and modern means that not only help ship owners exploit in the prescribed area but also ensure the quality and value of the exploited products when managed through the electronic tracing system".

According to a survey by the Thanh Hoa Fisheries Department, fishermen in the province have focused on investing in the application of Sonar horizontal detectors, GSHT equipment, PU foam storage tanks, and fish-attracting LED lights. By the end of June 2024, the whole province had 1,094 fishing vessels installed with GSHT equipment, reaching a rate of 100%. In the management of fishing vessels, up to now, the whole province has updated registration, inspection, and licensing data for 2,735 fishing vessels into the National Fisheries Database System (Vnfishbase). This is a fairly comprehensive database and a useful tool in fisheries management and seafood exploitation capacity.

In addition, the whole province has about 30% of offshore fishing vessels applying detection technology with Sona detectors; 10% of fishing vessels applying product preservation with new PU material storage tanks; 10% of fishing vessels applying energy-saving LED lighting systems to attract fish and many other new technologies and improvements.

Through digitalization in seafood management and exploitation, in the first 6 months of 2024, the provincial authorities have monitored and handled 283/234 fishing vessels from 15m to under 24m that lost GPS connection at sea for more than 10 days and verified and recorded 19/18 vessels over 24m that lost GPS connection at sea for more than 10 days. Administrative fines of hundreds of millions of VND have been imposed and documents have been sent to local authorities and related units to monitor and supervise, absolutely not allowing fishing vessels to operate when the GPS equipment has not been operating continuously. Along with that, through digitalization in exploitation, at 3 designated fishing ports, the authorities have inspected and monitored more than 4,703 tons of exploited seafood, and collected fishing logs of 835 vessels. These are important bases contributing to the completion of regulations in combating IUU fishing.

Mr. Le Van Sang, Deputy Head of Thanh Hoa Fisheries Sub-Department, said: "To improve the quality of digitalization in seafood management and exploitation, the sub-department is currently organizing the selection of fishermen to pilot the use of the electronic seafood exploitation traceability system (eCDT). At the same time, at fishing port management boards, personnel are also assigned to deploy the use of the eCDT system, ensuring the approval of fishing logs, records of unloaded output through the port, issuing receipts for unloaded seafood, issuing raw material certificates and certificates of origin of seafood through the eCDT system when requested by fishing vessels. In addition, the agricultural sector in general and the fisheries sector in particular are also actively promoting and implementing policies to support the application of new material technology in building new storage tanks for seafood exploitation products, supporting the purchase of GSHT equipment and GSHT equipment service subscription fees for fishing vessel owners with a length of 15m or more according to the resolution of the Provincial People's Council. Thereby, improving productivity, quality quantity of aquatic products after exploitation as well as the effectiveness of fishing vessel management in the area".

Article and photos: Thanh Hoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/so-hoa-hoat-dong-quan-ly-va-khai-thac-hai-san-218090.htm