Efforts to bring digital logbooks to fishermen

Raising Awareness Among Fishermen

At the Fisheries Control Office at Phan Thiet Fishing Port, dozens of fishing vessels arrive and depart daily. The port is not only busy with seafood handling but also serves as a hub for helping fishermen become familiar with digital logbooks.

Instruction boards have been set up at administrative areas to guide fishermen in installing and using the eCDT system. Daily broadcasts over the port’s loudspeaker system provide information about the rollout, helping fishermen stay informed and proactive. Officials offer hands-on support, from app installation to data entry, emphasizing accuracy for future traceability.

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In fact, traditional paper logbooks often posed difficulties, especially in identifying precise coordinates for net deployment and retrieval. The transition to electronic logbooks has significantly improved data accuracy. We are intensifying outreach efforts and providing step-by-step guidance to help fishermen adapt to the new system.

Huynh Tan Sy, an officer of the IUU team at the Fisheries Control Office

Strict monitoring procedures are also enforced. Vessel owners must notify authorities at least one hour before departure. Upon arrival, authorities supervise catch volumes, collect logbooks, and cross-check both paper and digital records to ensure consistency. Certification of seafood origin is carried out in accordance with regulations, thereby enhancing transparency in fishing activities.

Huynh Tan Sy, an IUU officer at the local Fisheries Control Office, said communication efforts are carried out regularly. All vessels entering the port are reminded to fully comply with regulations on arrival and departure notifications and logbook entries. At the same time, authorities inspect licences, vessel registrations, vessel monitoring systems on boats over 15 metres, as well as food safety conditions and crew lists.

Fisherman Mai Van Hung, from Phu Thuy Ward and owner of fishing vessel BTh 84759 employing 10 workers for nearshore fishing, shared: “Since the beginning of the year, fishing activities have faced many difficulties. Fishing grounds have been less favourable, while rising fuel prices have significantly increased the cost of each trip. I have always kept logbooks as instructed by the port, from coordinates to catch volume. Now switching to a mobile application, although officials have provided guidance, my crew and I are still unfamiliar with it and find it quite confusing,” Hung said.

Accelerating the rollout of electronic fishing logbooks

Under the Fisheries Law and related regulations, maintaining fishing logbooks is mandatory for vessels measuring 12 metres or more in length. This plays a crucial role in modern fisheries management, supporting traceability, production statistics, and monitoring compliance with designated fishing zones. It also contributes to preventing illegal fishing at sea.

Compared to traditional methods, electronic logbooks offer clear advantages, including greater transparency, easier management, time and cost savings, and improved traceability, while also helping address the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning.

To implement this policy, the provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 7543, dated November 20, 2025, on the province-wide deployment of electronic logbook systems for fishing, purchasing, and transshipment activities. Based on the plan, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed relevant units to allocate resources and funding, while coordinating with technology companies to organise training and guide the use of the software and data management systems.

The Sub-Department of Fisheries and Seas has also reviewed and compiled a list of vessels measuring 12 metres or more, enabling service providers to create user accounts for the digital logbook application.

Meanwhile, provincial fishing port management boards have been granted access to monitoring systems and established online communication groups to support fishermen during implementation. At the same time, authorities continue to guide vessel owners and captains in installing and using the application, while highlighting its advantages to help them fully utilise its features.

However, according to the provincial fishing port report, adoption remains limited and is still largely at the familiarisation stage, with only three vessels having used digital logbooks in actual fishing trips so far. The reasons include limited digital skills among some vessel owners and captains, as well as hesitation in transitioning from paper-based recording to smart devices.

In addition, fishermen must bear a service subscription cost of around VND 200,000 per month. Previously, as the regulation was not strictly mandatory, many vessel owners have adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

This “transition period” is seen as an opportunity for local authorities, management agencies, and fishermen to adapt and improve both skills and infrastructure.

With continued support from authorities and determination from fishermen, once these obstacles are gradually resolved, digital logbooks are expected to become a key foundation for a transparent, responsible, and sustainable fisheries sector.