June 11, 2021
Yellowfin Tuna update from the water
Gear Type:Handline
Volume: 16,500 MT
FIP Stage: 5 (Improvements on the Water)
Progress Rating: A (Advanced Progress)
Start Date: April 2014
Yellowfin tuna is Vietnam’s most valuable marine export making it a critical source of jobs and income with over 1800 vessels and 9000 fishers engaged in the fishery. The Vietnam yellowfin tuna handline FIP is focused on reducing bycatch, improving stock management, and increasing traceability through engagement with fishers, government officials, and the private sector. In July 2020, the FIP stakeholders piloted Vietnam’s first-ever electronic logbook onboard 30 tuna vessels. The logbook aims to strengthen catch monitoring, improve vessel coverage and reporting, and further enable the mitigation of negative impacts of fishing on other species, including sharks and sea turtles. The Directorate of Fisheries of Vietnam has expressed their support for the eLogbook app and for knowledge sharing of lessons learned in the FIP pilots and to work cooperatively in harmonizing with the national Catch Documentation Scheme initiative. In collaboration with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), FIP stakeholders also created the beta version of a GDST-compliant app for the Vietnam tuna processing sector.
The Android-based app is available on Google Play and is being further optimized with current factory procedures in Vietnam. In 2021, WWF and VINATUNA will work with the processing sector and their downstream supply chain partners to ensure the technical integration of GDSTcompliant digital traceability. We will also work closely with the Directorate of Fisheries to ensure key support among government managers for the integration of the GDST-based app with the emerging national electronic catch documentation.
