Fishery Improvement Project

Last update: May 2023

Species:

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) [Western and Central North Pacific Ocean stock]

FIP Stage according to CASS Progress Table: 5, Improvements on the Water

FIP Profile at FisheryProgress.org: Vietnam swordfish – handline

Fishery Location: Vietnam Exclusive Economic Zone

FIP Coordination: If you would like more information about the FIP or if you wish to become a member, please contact Stephen Fisher (Sea Delight) or Gabriela Mc Lean (CeDePesca).

Current FIP Participants (open to new memberships):

• Hong Ngoc Seafood (Vietnam producer)
• Sea Delight (US importer)
• CeDePesca (technical support)

FIP Documents:

• MSC Pre-Assessment – November 2017
• FIP Framework Agreement – July 2018
• Addendum N1 – October 2018
• Specific Agreement N1 – June 2019
• FIP Action Plan 2018-2022

Other references:

• Fishbase – Swordfish

Date Publicly Announced: May 2018

Current Improvement Recommendations:

• To adopt explicit limit or target reference points for the swordfish stocks.
• To design and adopt a Management Plan for swordfish, including a well-defined harvest control rule.
• To improve data collection in the fishery.
• To assess the impacts of the Vietnamese handline fleet over other ecosystem components, such as bycatch species and endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species.
• To better address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Background:

Swordfish is a highly migratory species of fish found throughout most of the world’s oceans. Adults are typically found between 15 degrees North and 35 degrees South, while juveniles are more common within tropical and subtropical waters. Migration to more temperate waters occurs as fish mature. This Fishery Improvement Project focuses on the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean (WCNPO) swordfish stock, under the management of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), fished by the Vietnamese handline fishery.

The Vietnamese handline fishery developed in late 2011, and grew dramatically during 2012 when many longline vessels switched to handline. The fishery primarily targets large tunas -such as yellowfin and bigeye- in offshore areas within the Vietnam Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), although swordfish and other large pelagic species are also taken. Handliners attracts fish using bait and lights, with vessels usually operating up to four lines, each with two hooks. The length of a fishing trip is approximately 25 days. There is incomplete information available on the fleet, but possibly close to 1,500 vessels are currently operating (source: MRAG MSC PA citing tuna pre-assessment, 2013).

The fleet of handline and longline vessels has continued to modernise and upgrade technology, but most are still small and not well equipped by Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) industrial standards. Vessels are licensed at provincial level but any management measures are generally imposed at national level; for example, capacity management and operational restrictions.  All fishing currently occurs within the Vietnam EEZ.

All catch is initially landed in Vietnam, with higher quality catch exported as both whole fish and processed product, with the remainder retained for local consumption and processing.

Key problems/issues:

According to the MSC Pre-Assessment of the fishery, the main obstacles to sustainability are:

• No explicit limit or target reference points are defined by which to manage exploitation of the stock more robustly.
• There is not a well-defined harvest control rule in place for swordfish, although there are rules and management tools available from other fisheries in the Western Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC) area for reducing catch or effort in the swordfish fishery should critical limits be approached.
• Currently, there is not sufficient information to rule out the finning of sharks.
• There is poor information on catches in the fishery.
• There is little information regarding bycatch and ETP species in the fishery.
• The fishery management system in Vietnam does not explicitly embody the precautionary approach and certain provisions of conservation and management of the WCPFC need to be addressed by the national legislation.
• There are no fishery-specific objectives for swordfish at the national level.
• There is no management plan for the fishery.
• There are shortcomings in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the country.

FIP Objectives:

The specific objectives of this FIP are:

• To adopt explicit limit or target reference points for the swordfish stocks by January 2021.
• To design and adopt a Management Plan for swordfish, including a well-defined harvest control rule by January 2021.
• To improve data collection in the fishery by July 2022.
• To assess the impacts of the Vietnamese handline fleet over other ecosystem components, such as bycatch species and endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species by July 2022.
• To better address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by January 2021.
• To achieve an MSC-certifiable status by July 2022.

The FIP Action Plan has been designed to attain the aforementioned objectives.

Progress Update

2017

November – December 2017

In November 2017, MRAG Ltd completed an MSC Pre-Assessment for the Vietnamese Swordfish handline fishery.  Sea Delight shared the MSC Pre-Assessment with CeDePesca to discuss the steps necessary to implement a Fishery Improvement Project.

2018

January – April 2018

Sea Delight and CeDePesca analyzed the MSC Pre-Assessment and identified improvement needs.  A draft Action Plan was designed to address sustainability issues that must be solved for the fishery to attain a certifiable status against the MSC standard.  

Sea Delight decided to open the process to other fishery stakeholders and a period to receive comments on the MSC Pre-Assessment results and the draft Action Plan was set.  Stakeholders interested in becoming part of the FIP are also welcome to approach Sea Delight or CeDePesca to discuss their membership and participation in the project.

May – November 2018

Sea Delight and CeDePesca signed a Framework Agreement (July 2018) and its addendum N1 (October 2018), setting up the guidelines that will orient the implementation of the Vietnam Swordfish Handline FIP as well as the process of including new FIP partners.  In addition, the FIP’s Action Plan and its associated budget have been streamlined. Improvement efforts are to begin in December 2018.

It should be highlighted that Vietnam has issued a mandatory catch certificate that all swordfish/tuna vessels must complete and submit to local D-Fish in order to unload and sell their products.  This certificate is being used to inform WCPFC on catch data. The certificate is being enforced as of October 2018.

December 2018

Sea Delight attended the 2018 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) annual meeting as an observer.  A joint request by several stakeholders was submitted to the commission asking for management measures with specific target and limit reference points for North Pacific swordfish.  The letter also highlighted the need for a harvest control rule that takes into account the inherent uncertainty of stock assessments. During the meeting, the Northern Committee made an announcement that a WCPFC Management Strategy for Northern Swordfish has been completed and will be released in 2019.  

With the aim to improve fishery research, fishers in the Khanh Hoa province have been invited to support a new effort to increase data collection on secondary catch in the fishery through their participation in the Volunteer Fishery Monitor (VFM) program that will be set up by this FIP.  The meeting took place on December 25th, and it included the participation of local fishing community members and local authorities.

In addition, Sea Delight and CeDePesca have agreed to work with WWF Vietnam and Thinh Hung Company to encourage vessel captains to volunteer for the planned C-hook program that is sponsored by WWF Hong Kong.

2019

January – March 2019

An Android app called the “Crew Observer Photographic Protocol Application – COPPA” with capability to create a Trip Report document with text and photos and a Google Trip Map has been designed.  The app has been tested successfully in February 2019. At-sea testing is expected to start soon. The programming was completed by IT code writers from the Vietnam Tuna Association (VINATUNA). The app was shared at the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) “Hackathon” in Bangkok in late February.  It is expected that a more polished version for onboard trials will be quickly developed.

April – June 2019

In April 2019, meetings were held with WWF Vietnam and VINATUNA to further discuss collaboration in FIP activities and synergies with the Vietnam Tuna FIP.  

In June 2019, the FIP welcomed Vietnam producer, Hong Ngoc Seafood, as Local FIP partner.  Specific Agreement N°1 formally adopting the FIP Action Plan and welcoming Hong Ngoc Seafood to the FIP was signed on June 12th.  In mid-July, a signing ceremony will take place in Tuy Hoa with attendance of local government officials and other fishery stakeholders.

Regarding the COPPA onboard fishery monitoring program, the first at sea trial took place in Nha Trang, Khan Hoa province, in May.  Some hardware setting issues related to the GPS connection were identified and solved, and two new trial trips have begun in June. The trials now include testing of the new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for VINATUNA that are part of the C-hook distribution and research program for the Vietnam tuna FIP.

Also in June, the Vietnam swordfish FIP was presented to fishers and local fishing authorities in Binh Dinh province in collaboration with VINATUNA and WWF Vietnam who also introduced the new free C-hook distribution program for the Vietnam tuna FIP.  Seven vessel operators volunteered to join the COPPA Program in this province, and monitoring will start once the COPPA trial phase is completed.

Regarding traceability, a draft traceability system has been designed and is ready to test in late July.  The system is based on the Vietnam tuna FIP trace code.

July – September 2019

On July 18th, a signing ceremony took place in Tuy Hoa officially welcoming Hong Ngoc Seafood as partner to the FIP.  Among the attendees were fishers, local government officials, and other fishery stakeholders.

From September 3rd to 6th, the 15th regular session of the Northern Committee of the WCPFC took place in Portland, USA.  For this meeting, two letters were sent on behalf of the FIP. The first letter expressed support for the adoption of the harvest strategy for North Pacific Swordfish proposed by the USA; the second letter put forward suggestions to complement the aforementioned proposal.  The suggestions were: (a) set as the fishery management objective the fluctuation of the stock around a target reference point, and require the Scientific Committee to pronounce itself on an appropriate level in 2020; and, (b) assess the status of the North Pacific Swordfish stock against its limit and target reference points at least every two years.  During its meeting, the Northern Committee resolved differences between the delegations of USA, Japan and Taiwan on the proposed harvest strategy, and agreed to adopt it at the next WCPFC annual meeting in December.

On the other hand, FIP partners drafted a suggested roadmap for the development of a management plan for the Vietnam swordfish fishery.  The proposal will be presented to the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries and other fishery authorities during the next few months.

In relation to the fishery management system, progress has been made by fishing authorities in relation to the vessel monitoring system (VMS), the logbook initiative and the National Plan of Action for Turtles: The Vietnam government is currently testing the VMS that will become mandatory for all tuna vessels as of January 1st, 2020 (it should be noted that swordfish is a secondary catch in that fishery).  The government has also signed the Ports States Agreement and has issued more strict controls to deter IUU fishing (illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing).  The logbook format for all fisheries has been recently improved and is in the process of being implemented in accordance to the new Fisheries Law. In order to contribute in the facilitation of the logbook initiative, the FIP is designing an electronic application. On the other hand, the NPOA for turtles is now in full implementation.

Regarding the COPPA onboard fishery monitoring program, two fishing trips have been successfully completed in Nha Trang (Khan Hoa province) in mid-September.  Fishers recorded all catch events, and reported no issues with the GPS connection. The COPPA app will continue to be fine-tuned to improve photo resolution and to make mapping faster.  Two more fishing trips are expected to end in late October. By the end of 2019, the fishery monitoring program is expected to be expanded to two fishing units per province.

Regarding the C-hook joint effort with the Vietnam Tuna FIP, FIP partners have agreed to work with WWF Vietnam and Thinh Hung Company to encourage vessel captains to volunteer for the planned C-hook program.  Meetings in all 3 provinces have taken place, and more than 100 vessel captains have attended. Fifteen vessels have signed on for actual onboard C-hook trials with detailed voluntary catch-by-gear catch reports.

Regarding traceability, FIP partners had agreed to wait for the results of an audit of the traceability system already put in place for the Vietnam Tuna FIP, before testing the Vietnam swordfish traceability system.  The aforementioned audit took place in August, and VINATUNA (leading the Vietnam Tuna FIP) has now accepted the proposed swordfish traceability system as well. The test of the proposed system for the Vietnam swordfish will be conducted with participation of two Sea Delight suppliers starting in November.  The aim of the system is to help processing plants and stakeholders in ensuring that FIP products that are sold to markets and to final customers are from FIP sources.

October 2019 – May 2020 

Sea Delight and other stakeholders presented a letter to the Northern Committee of the WCPFC in September 2019, supporting the harvest strategy proposal presented by the USA delegation.  In a separate letter addressed to the Northern Committee, CeDePesca made suggestions to build upon the USA proposal.  The suggestions were: (a) set as the fishery management objective the fluctuation of the stock around a target reference point and require the Scientific Committee to pronounce itself on an appropriate level in 2020; and (b) assess the status of the North Pacific Swordfish stock against its limit and target reference points at least every two years.  During its meeting, the Northern Committee resolved differences between the delegations of USA, Japan and Taiwan on the proposed harvest strategy, and agreed to adopt it at the next WCPFC annual meeting in December.  

FIP partners drafted a suggested roadmap for the development of a management plan for the Vietnam swordfish fishery.  The proposal will be presented to the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries and other fishery authorities during the next few months.  

In relation to the fishery management system, the Vietnam government is currently testing the VMS that will become mandatory for all tuna vessels as of January 1st, 2020 (it should be noted that swordfish is a secondary catch in that fishery).  The logbook format for all fisheries has been recently improved and is in the process of being implemented in accordance to the new Fisheries Law.  In order to contribute in the facilitation of the logbook initiative, the FIP is designing an electronic application.

FIP partners have agreed to work with WWF Vietnam and Thinh Hung Company to encourage vessel captains to volunteer for the planned C-hook program that is sponsored by WWF and WWF Hong Kong.  Meetings in all 3 provinces have taken place, and more than 100 vessel captains have attended.  

Six fishing trips to test the COPPA app were successfully completed in Nha Trang (Khan Hoa province).  Fishers recorded all catch events and reported no issues with the GPS connection.  The COPPA app will continue to be fine-tuned to improve photo resolution and to make mapping faster.  

By the end of 2019, the fishery monitoring program is expected to be expanded to two fishing units per province, and to five per province in early 2020.

Fisher interviews indicate that D-Fish is implementing Decree 26 Chapter II Section 2 related to aquatic ETP species by banning the retention of all sharks and Mobula spp., rays.  However, awareness training and enforcement still need to be enhanced.  

Two vessels involved in the COPPA program participated from C-hook trials in the parent tuna handline fishery.  The C-hook trials are being organized by the Vietnam yellowfin tuna FIP.  On the other hand, the expansion of the ongoing onboard observer program in the parent tuna handline fishery is planned to start in 2021.

2020

May – October

During its 16th Regular Session conducted in 5-11 December 2019 in Papua Guinea, the WCPFC accepted the recommendation from the Northern Committee on a harvest strategy for the North Pacific Swordfish fishery.  The harvest strategy’s objective is maintaining the stock around the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level.  The limit reference point for the exploitation rate is FMSY. An F-limit rule has been set, so that if the average exploitation rate for the most recent period is found to exceed the F-limit, the Northern Committee will formulate conservation and management recommendations designed to reduce the fishing mortality rate below the F-limit as soon as feasible.  A Target Reference Point will be specified at a later date.  

FIP partners met with the director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in late November 2019 to present the suggested roadmap for the development of a management plan for the Vietnam swordfish fishery.  Further talks with the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries and other fishery authorities have resumed in the second quarter of 2020, as the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are gradually eased in Vietnam.  

In regard to the implementation of the new VN Fisheries Law, interviews with vessel owners, captains and seafood processors all corroborate the start of the implementation of the VMS for all handline tuna fishing vessels as of February 2020 (swordfish is a secondary catch in that fishery). On the other hand, in finding ways to support the implementation of the Fisheries Law, the e-logbook initiative is ongoing.

The trial period for the COPPA app ended in January 2020, with a total of eight fishing trips successfully completed.  The GPS signal acquisition issues are under control and the platform is now stable: key functions of the app and website work well.

Two fishing vessels are cooperating with the COPPA fishery monitoring program out from Nha Trang (Khanh hoa province), and FIP partner Hong Ngoc Seafood has secured the participation of four more fishing vessels: two in Binh Dinh province and two in Phu Yen province. 

 FIP partners have started sharing public versions of the COPPA trip reports with fishing authorities to show the scope of the program.  

So far, two species of interest for conservation have been identified as caught incidentally in the fishery:  Mobula japanica and Prionace glauca.  

On the other hand, the expansion of the ongoing onboard observer program in the parent tuna handline fishery is planned to start in 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of the VFM/COPPA program to five vessels per province was disrupted.  Currently, the program retains the cooperation of two vessels in Khanh Hoa province, one in Phu Yen province and two in Binh Dinh province.  FIP partners expect the expansion to five vessels per province to be achieved by July 2021.  

In preparation for the expansion of the VFM/COPAA coverage to 5% of fishing vessels in the three provinces that is expected to start in July 2021, FIP partners have started including the topic into its communications with fishing authorities.  Considering the economic effects of the pandemic in Vietnam, the main hurdle to complete the expansion will be securing the necessary funding to do so.  

In September 2020, FIP partners have shared a report on ETP species interactions observed by the VFM/COPPA program with fishing authorities and researchers at DFISH and RIMF.  

So far, species of interest for conservation include blue sharks (Prionace glauca), olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and devil rays (Mobula spp.). 

It should be noted that observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery have been cancelled in Vietnam because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This decision is in line with those taken by the WCPFC in regard to its observer programs for tuna fleets.  FIP partners have sent letters to RFMOs supporting the measures taken to protect the health of observers and crew, while encouraging the advancement towards electronic monitoring as an accepted approach to providing an alternative to human observer coverage.  WCPFC has recently extended the suspension of observer coverage up to February 2021.

Information collected so far by the VFM/COPPA program indicates that fishers continue to retain blue sharks.  In e-mail exchanges produced with fishing authorities in September 2020, FIP partners have recommended that the government considers including blue shark in the list of prohibited species associated with Decree 26 or including a broader prohibition to include “all near-threatened shark species”.  

FIP partners have also encouraged authorities to improve formal inspection to further discourage shark finning.  

On the other hand, two vessels involved in the COPPA program have continued to participate from C-hook trials in the parent tuna handline fishery.  A total of 25,000 C-hooks have been distributed by the C-hook program so far.  A full report is expected to be published by VINATUNA during the last quarter of 2020.

In order to support the implementation of the logbook, the FIP has developed an app that is currently in its at-desk testing phase.

In collaboration with the Vietnam tuna FIP, an e-logbook app has being designed and is now available at the Google Play store.  At-sea trials were expected to begin in June 2020, but because of the COVID-19 second wave in Vietnam, this activity was delayed.  The app is currently being tested by vessels in the Vietnam tuna handline fishery, but two vessels associated to the swordfish VFM/COPPA program in Binh Dinh are expected to join the at-sea trial soon.  

Given that the fishery has 100% VMS coverage at this time and VFM/COPPA trip reports show that fishers are aware that they are being monitored and subject to sanction, this Task has been suspended until further notice.  

FIP partners have decided to broaden the scope of this task and will start holding meetings with fishers in 2021 to raise awareness on management tools such as logbooks and the VMS, and to encourage compliance with regulations set to curb IUU fishing.

2021

November 2020 – April  2021

FIP partners have continued to promote the development of a management plan for the Vietnam swordfish fishery.  Fishing authorities seem to be open to discussion, but at present there is limited room for interaction as priorities are continuously shifting due to the effects of the first and second waves of COVID-19 in Vietnam.  Currently, FIP partners are exploring if an alternative, simpler path exists that could allow the fishery to comply with MSC requirements in P1 and P3 in the medium-term.  

In regard to the implementation of the new VN Fisheries Law, the fishery has 100% VMS coverage at this time and fishers are aware that they are being monitored and subject to sanction.  In addition, FIP partners are encouraging authorities to include a shark-finning ban into regulations and have continued to develop the e-logbook initiative.

Sea Delight attended the 10th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-10), as an observer.  During this meeting, held on 22-23 April 2021 with participation from D-FISH and WCPFC representatives, Vietnam stated that it will seek full WCFPC membership, and that -in the meantime- it will comply fully with WCPFC Conservation Measures.  This indicates that Vietnam will follow the WCPFC swordfish harvest strategy.  In consonance with this statement, it agreed to resume reporting swordfish catch to WCPFC, after a short one-year hiatus in 2020.  Regarding a national management plan for swordfish, FIP partners are exploring the possibility of working together with the VN tuna handline FIP, given that it is very likely that the adoption of a harvest strategy for swordfish based on reference points will result in the species being considered as a main primary species for the VN tuna handline fishery.  A decision on this regard is expected soon.

May – November 2021

In the context of the FIP’s poster initiative for WCPFC key species, conversations have been held with officials from the Department of Capture Fisheries (DECAFREP), who have agreed in principle to the poster containing a statement indicating that Vietnam is seeking to comply with the WCPFC Conservation Management Measures (CMM) for the species in the poster, including swordfish.  The statement would also include a reference to Vietnam’s status as a Cooperating Non-Member of the WCPFC.  The FIP is now seeking official authorizations from governmental entities for the use of logos.  The final version of the posters will be shared here once printing is underway.  Regarding synergies with the VN tuna handline FIP, from which Sea Delight is also a FIP partner, a revision of the classification of swordfish as primary species is expected in December, as that FIP undergoes its 3-yr audit.  If swordfish is classified as a primary species in the VN tuna handline fishery, it would be very likely that both FIPs will work together towards achieving a time-bound commitment from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) regarding the establishment of a National Management Plan for swordfish alone or for billfish.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of the VFM/COPPA program to five vessels in the provinces of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh continues to be on hold.  Currently, the program retains the cooperation of four vessels, out of five in October 2020.  The recruitment and training of additional vessel crews has been set back by travel restrictions established by the VN government.  To adapt to this situation, the FIP will implement an alternative route to encourage the expansion of coverage.  The FIP will offer fishers to join the VFM/COPPA program using their own devices, and to participate from a contest for the top 3 best observers for Lunar Year 2021.  

FIP partners were exploring the possibility of engaging the government to expand the VFM program to 5% of the participating fisher organizations in the three main fishing provinces, but fishing authorities have decided to operate their own apps, and eventual real observers.  The FIP will then monitor the implementation of the government initiative and will do its best to expand the VFM/COPPA program to reach the 5% goal by June 2022, as planned.  However, given the COVID-19 situation, the main hurdle will be securing the necessary funding to do so.  

In March 2021, the first draft of the COPPA Annual Report was completed, and comments and suggestions were sought among FIP partners.  The report includes the results from 36 COPPA trips conducted between February 2020 and January 2021, and will be sent to fishing authorities soon.  

So far, species of interest for conservation interacting with the fishery include blue sharks (Prionace glauca), bigeye thresher, olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and devil rays (Mobula spp.).  The FIP will be completing a Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis for those species not already included in the analysis report produced by the Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (RIMF) in 2018 and 2019 by late June 2021.  

The COPPA annual report, soon to be finalized, includes some recommendations for management of the fishery impacts on species of interest for conservation.  Once the PSA is ready, additional recommendations will be formulated, if necessary.  

In regard to observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery, this continue to be restricted in Vietnam because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This decision is in line with those taken by the WCPFC in regard to its observer programs for tuna fleets.  The WCPFC has recently extended the suspension of observer coverage up to 31 May 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of the VFM/COPPA program to five vessels in the provinces of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh continues to be on hold.  Currently, the program retains the cooperation of four vessels, out of five in October 2020.  The recruitment and training of additional vessel crews has been set back by travel restrictions established by the VN government.  As an alternative route to encourage the expansion of coverage, FIP partner Sea Delight and VINATUNA have completed a draft proposal to implement the COPPA Sea Champion Video Contest “Promoting Sustainable Fishing Practice through Fisher Participation in Social Media Video Platforms and Expansion of the Crew Observer Program (COPPA 2.0)”.  The contest is intended to be rolled out in December and to conclude in June 2022.  

The FIP has completed a Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) for big eye thresher (Alopias superciliosus), devil rays (Mobula spp.), and olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), which were not previously analyzed by Vietnam’s Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (RIMF) in 2018 and 2019.  The results indicate that the three species would be facing a medium risk due to the effects of fishing.  A final report will be available soon.  

The COPPA annual report has been completed and delivered to fishing authorities, and it will be shared here soon.  

In regard to observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery, these continue to be restricted in Vietnam because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the possibility of restarting the program in 2022 with some trips on purse seiners and handline tuna boats.

FIP partners requested that the government bans retention of all pelagic sharks, or that it mandates “fins naturally attached” until the specimens are discharged in port.  Fishing authorities have expressed that their priority in this regard is the full implementation of the Shark National Plan of Action.  During the VTFACE-10 meeting held on April 22-23 between representatives from D-FISH and the WCPFC, fishing authorities also announced that personnel in each port would be assigned to collect data on WCPFC key species, including shark species, and that the catch data will be reported to WCPFC annually to help guide management of these species.  The improved logbook form will also specifically require the reporting of all discarded WCPFC key shark species.

 The full report for the C-hook program has been made available by VINATUNA in March 2021.  Two vessels involved in the COPPA program in the province of Khanh Hoa participated from the C-hook program.  Please note that Sea Delight is a partner to the VN tuna handline FIP, where swordfish is caught as bycatch.

The government has been training the port enforcers on how to collect data on WCPFC key species, including shark species, and on their new e-logbook app.  It is expected that as nearly all government employees become fully vaccinated, the rules related to the NPOA will be properly enforced at tuna ports.  

Regarding the C-hook program, travel and quarantine restrictions were imposed as of June 2020 in Vietnam to curb the spread of COVID-19, and consequently the FIP has not been able to organize or hold new meetings/trainings with fishers in relation to the use of C-hooks.  The FIP hopes that this work can be resumed in early 2022, as the vaccination program advances in Vietnam.

Six vessels used the e-logbook app in early 2021 and made 16 trips.  However, fishing authorities have decided to operate their own e-logbook app, and so the FIP will monitor the implementation of the government initiative.  In addition, during the 10th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-10), held on 22-23 April 2021, Vietnam announced that a new form would be added to the paper-based VN onboard logbook for tuna fisheries that would list all billfish (including swordfish).  

Given that holding in-person meetings with fishers at main ports is not possible at this time due to travel restrictions, the FIP is exploring different paths to reach out to fishers.  Sea Delight volunteered to lead a project to make Fish Identification posters for key WCPFC species in Vietnamese and English languages, and to distribute them to port data collectors at fishing ports in the near future.  Fishing authorities agreed to this activity in late April, and the FIP is now advancing towards its implementation.  The posters would use species images and identification guidance coming from the SPC Species Identification Files.  Similar initiatives will be considered to raise awareness on other fishery issues.

The government has developed a combined e-logbook and trace app and has been training their staff on it in Khanh Hoa province, but the app has not been tested yet at sea.  Please note that the observers program is currently suspended, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam and is expected to restart in 2022.  

The proposed Fish Identification poster for key WPFC species has been subject to multiple discussions and revisions and has been shared with fishing authorities at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish), the Department of Capture Fisheries (DECAFREP), the Vietnam Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC, representing WCPFC).  The contents of the proposed poster have been accepted, and the FIP is waiting for a formal authorization to use the different entities’ logos.  On the other hand, please note travel and quarantine restrictions continue to be enforced in Vietnam to curb the spread of COVID-19, and consequently the FIP has not been able to organize or hold new meetings with fishers.  FIP partners hope that in-person activities can be resumed in early 2022, as the vaccination program advances in Vietnam.

2022

December 2021 – May 2022

Sea Delight attended the 11th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-11), as an observer.  During this meeting, held on 19-20 April 2022 with participation from D-FISH and WCPFC representatives, Vietnam stated that it will continue to develop and implement the data collection strategy, including seminars on the use of and training to improve sampling capacity for staff performing sampling at ports.  It also requested the assistance from the West Pacific East Asia project (WPEA, tuna-oriented) for workshops on harvest strategy concepts.  The FIP considers that these workshops will have a positive impact on the management of swordfish at the national level.  On the other hand, FIP partners will be working together with the VN tuna handline FIP to promote the development of national measures for swordfish, given that the species has been confirmed as a main primary species for the VN tuna handline fishery.  Furthermore, as promised in the November 2021 FIP progress update, the final version of the Fish Identification poster for key WCPFC species is now available, and it includes a reference to Vietnam’s status as a Cooperating Non-Member of the WCPFC.  

Noting that the WCPFC Northern Committee’s workplan for 2022-2024 calls for the consideration of a target reference point and associated harvest control rule for the North Pacific swordfish fishery in 2022, and for the development of a recommendation and a draft Conservation Management Measure (CMM) in 2023 and 2024, FIP partners have decided to include a new task into the workplan, in order to strongly advocate for the completion of the aforementioned tasks –especially considering that there is concern within the Northern Committee regarding the prioritization of the North Pacific swordfish stock assessment and of its CMM as noted by the Northern Committee Chair in the summary report of the committee’s 17th Regular Session held in October 2021.  The next meeting of the Scientific Committee will be held on 10-18 August 2022, and the FIP will be sending letters stressing the importance of addressing the outstanding matters related to the harvest strategy for North Pacific swordfish.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of the VFM/COPPA program to five vessels in the provinces of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh was badly hindered.  The program retains the cooperation of four vessels, out of five in October 2020.  As an alternative route to encourage the expansion of coverage, FIP partner Sea Delight and VINATUNA started implementing the COPPA Sea Champion Video Contest “Promoting Sustainable Fishing Practice through Fisher Participation in Social Media Video Platforms and Expansion of the Crew Observer Program (COPPA 2.0)” with cash prizes every six months.  The contest was rolled out in January 2022, and was expected to conclude in June 2022.  The initial response to the contest was good, with 25 fishers stating an interest in three provinces and 11 vessels (10 handline vessels and one purse seine vessel) confirming participation. Training was conducted with support from VINATUNA, including awareness of ETP species and catch data reporting in general.  Unfortunately, the initiative was hampered by problems with using the fishers’ own hardware and a lack of interest from some fishers in receiving the required training.  For this reason, the contest was withdrawn.  The FIP is now considering the expansion of the COPPA program by providing new phones and offering an honorarium for each trip to more fishers.  

The species of interest for conservation interacting with the fishery as observed in the VFM/COPPA program include blue sharks (Prionace glauca), bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and devil rays (Mobula spp.).  In November 2021, the FIP completed a Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) for big eye thresher, devil rays, and olive ridley sea turtle, which were not previously analyzed by Vietnam’s Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (RIMF) in 2018 and 2019.  The results indicated that the three species would be facing a medium risk due to the effects of fishing.  During the 3-yr independent FIP audit, the MSC technical consultant considered that this result might support an increase in score for PI 2.3.1, and suggested that other potential ETP species, such as other turtles, could be reviewed.  Considering that the results from the PSA conducted by Vietnam’s RIMF found that the risk for all turtles would be medium risk for the handline fishery, as would be the case for blue sharks, the FIP considers this task complete at this time.  

The FIP has decided to pursue the adoption of a fins-naturally-attached policy for sharks, in order to address the risks posed to this group of species.  Furthermore, it has commissioned the design and manufacturing of simple locally made hook removing and fishing line cutting tools in March 2022.  These are made by local blacksmiths who specialize in home cutlery and farming tools and can easily be made in any province in Vietnam.  The tools will be tested by COPPA fishers in Nha Trang on the next fishing trips in June 2002.  The goal is to encourage fishers to release accidentally hooked sharks before bringing them onboard the vessel to reduce possible injury to the animals.  In regard to turtles, the FIP has decided to continue to support the C-hook initiative.  In addition, the FIP will continue to encourage data collection and reporting.  

In regard to observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery, the restart of the program is still expected in 2022 with trips on some purse seiners and handline tuna boats.

After analyzing the situation further, FIP partners have decided to encourage the government to adopt a “fins naturally attached” policy until the specimens are discharged in port, instead of aiming for a finning ban.  During the 11th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-11) held on 19-20 April 2022, fishing authorities expressed their openness towards the fins-naturally-attached approach.  

Vietnam continues to move towards full implementation of the Shark National Plan of Action.  Personnel in each port have been assigned to collect data on WCPFC key species, including shark species, and the catch data will be reported to WCPFC annually to help guide management of these species.  To support training for port personnel, the FIP arranged for the design, print, and delivery of a Fish Identification poster for key WPFC species.  In addition, FIP partner Sea Delight has commissioned the design and manufacturing of simple locally made hook removing and fishing line cutting tools in March 2022 with the goal of encouraging fishers to release incidentally hooked sharks before bringing them onboard the vessels to reduce possible injury to the animals.  These are made by local blacksmiths who specialize in home cutlery and farming tools and can easily be made in any province in Vietnam.  The tools will be tested by COPPA fishers in Nha Trang on the next fishing trips in June 2022.

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, it has not been possible to resume fisher organization meetings.  

The Fish Identification poster for key WCPFC species proposed by the FIP was approved by fishing authorities.  170 posters detailing banned shark and ray species were distributed to the main tuna ports and to 12 other ports in Vietnam (all ports where any species of tuna, billfish, ray or shark are unloaded).  The posters are now available to local port directors and fishery regulation enforcers.  At the 11th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-11) held on 19-20 April 2022, all local port directors were instructed to use the poster as an aide to identify ETP species and collecting catch data.  

June – November 2022

A WPEA harvest strategy workshop was held on 27-28 June 2022, with the attendance of major government officials from Vietnam and of representatives from the Vietnam tuna and swordfish handline FIPs (WPEA = West Pacific East Asia project).  During this meeting, basic and advanced concepts related to harvest strategies were explained and discussed with the attendees.  Although the workshop was oriented towards the tuna fisheries, mixed fishery harvest strategies were discussed and examples were shown during the meeting that included billfish, although no recommendations were issued regarding the inclusion of swordfish or billfish into management procedures.  FIP partners expect that the discussions will set the stage for adding swordfish/billfish to the tuna management procedures in the long term and to the tuna management plan in the medium term.  

Instead of sending a letter to the Scientific Committee, FIP partners decided to monitor the developments that would take place at the 18th Regular Session of the Northern Committee.  The session was held on 4-6 October 2022, and Japan presented a draft CMM for North Pacific swordfish.  The proposed measures include not increasing fishing effort beyond 2008-2010 average annual levels and would not apply to those fisheries taking less than 200 metric tons of North Pacific swordfish per year – although if the catches of such fisheries exceed the threshold in any given year, the WCPFC would adopt appropriate measures for those fisheries. The proposed measures are meant to be applied to fisheries that take North Pacific swordfish regardless of targeting or fishing of the species, and it would be enforced by Members, Cooperating Non-Members (such as Vietnam) and participating territories.  The Northern Committee agreed to recommend that the WCPFC adopts the CMM for North Pacific swordfish.  The next WCPFC Regular Session is expected to take place between November 27th and December 3rd, 2022.  Please note that an update of the North Pacific swordfish stock assessment is expected in 2023.  The FIP will be sending letters to the WCPFC supporting the draft CMM for North Pacific swordfish and stressing the importance of addressing the outstanding matters related to the harvest strategy for the stock.

 In regard to observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery, the restart of the program is now expected to occur in 2023, and there is reason to believe the observers will be allocated to the purse seine fleet only.  The continued suspension of the observer program is in line with the decisions taken by the WCPFC in regard to its observer programs for tuna fleets.  In June 2022, the WCPFC decided to extend the suspension of the requirements for observer coverage on purse seine vessels until 31 December 2022.  The obligation shall come once again into effect on 1 January 2023.  

During the last reporting period, the COPPA/VFM program continued to experience difficulties, and at one point coverage was down to two vessels.  Fortunately, participation has recovered since August with the help of VINATUNA (VN tuna handline FIP, to which Sea Delight is also a partner), and there are currently six vessels in the program (up from five in October 2020), including three that are expected to restart their trips in January 2023.  Furthermore, additional funding has been secured through WWF-Vietnam, and four new vessels are expected to join in 2023 through the VN tuna handline FIP (please note that swordfish is a main primary species in the tuna handline fishery). The terms of reference associated to the expansion of the COPPA program are being finalized by Sea Delight and WWF-Vietnam.  

No new species of interest for conservation have been identified by the COPPA/VFM program during the last reporting period.  On the other hand, since September 2022, Sea Delight has been working with a European inventor and fishing technology engineer to test new fish attracting light technology in the Vietnam tuna and swordfish handline fishery.  The new technology would allow fishers to vary the depth and intensity of the fish attracting lights.  If successful, the technology is expected to reduce bycatch and also the carbon footprint of vessels using it.   An at-sea trial of the new technology is scheduled for November 2022.  Finally, in regard to the de-hooker and the long handle knife to facilitate the release of sharks, initial interviews with fishers indicate little interest in this type of equipment, and that they prefer to cut the line using hand knives.  However, FIP partners will continue to encourage consideration of other best practice options besides cutting the lines with hand knives. 

The FIP continues to encourage the adoption of a fins-naturally-attached policy.  Meanwhile, D-FISH has revised the list of ETP species to include blue sharks, and port authorities are requiring that sharks be released at sea, which is a meaningful step forward.   In addition, FIP partners are encouraging consideration of other best practice options for fishers besides cutting the lines with hand knives, such as using de-hooking devices.  

The distribution of C-hooks to fishers so that they can try them is ongoing, and its use will be required as part of the COPPA/VFM expansion being planned with support of WWF-Vietnam.  FIP partners estimate that C-hooks have been adopted by more than 30% of fishing boats in the handline fishery, and that a government mandate would be needed to get 100%.  

No fisher meetings took place during the last reporting period.  However, considering that fishing logbooks have been further refined to meet WCPFC standards in VTFACE-10 and VTFACE-11, and that port directors have been instructed to enforce the use of WCPFC logbooks, FIP partners consider this task is near completion and in the hands of D-FISH.  FIP partners will continue to provide input and attend meetings as required by national authorities.  

The Fish Identification poster for key WCPFC species continues to be used by local port directors and fishery regulation enforcers, and it is also being used as a training aid to make sure fishers are able to identify key species.  FIP partners are now considering how best to support D-FISH in showing best practice to fishers on how to release sharks.  In addition, Sea Delight is in contact with Global Fishing Watch and Vietnam fishing authorities to include the handline fishery into the supply chain risk project.  The supply chain risk project aims to provide companies with accessible and actionable data about IUU fishing risks down to the vessel level.  D-FISH has requested a formal letter to consider its participation in the program, which once started would support D-FISH to illuminate IUU fishing risks in order to mitigate them.  On the other hand, Vietnam has continued to work towards compliance with EU recommendations in order to ensure the removal of the EU yellow card previously issued in 2017.

2023

December 2022- April 2023

In early November 2022, FIP partners drafted a letter to the WCPFC regarding the draft Conservation Management Measure (CMM) for North Pacific swordfish.  However, after careful consideration and talks with government officials, it was decided that it would be best not to send the aforementioned letter and wait for Vietnam to express its official position during the meeting instead.  The 19th Regular Session of the WCPFC took place from 17 November to 3 December 2022 in Vietnam.  The Northern Committee Chair introduced the draft CMM for North Pacific swordfish as agreed in the Northern Committee’s 18th Regular Session and recommended its adoption by the WCPFC.  The WCPFC adopted its new CMM 2022-02 Conservation and Management Measure for North Pacific Swordfish, which aims at maintaining fishing effort at the levels consistent with the 2008-2010 average annual fishing mortality levels north of parallel 20°N.  The CMM applies to all fishing activities that catch swordfish, including target and bycatch fisheries and small-scale fishing, both in EEZs and the high seas, excluding Small Island Developing States who may wish to develop their own domestic fisheries for North Pacific swordfish in the future, and fisheries taking less than 200 metric tons – although if the catches of such fisheries exceed the threshold in any given year, the WCPFC would adopt appropriate measures for those fisheries.  The CMM is to be enforced by members, cooperating non-members (such as Vietnam) and participating territories in the Convention Area north of 20°N.  This is the first CMM adopted by the WCPFC for the North Pacific swordfish stock, and thus constitutes a change in fishing policy. 

During the opening remarks of the 19th Regular Session of the WCPFC held in Vietnam, the Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries of Vietnam (D-FISH) reiterated Vietnam’s interest in becoming a full member of the WCPFC, and expressed its commitment to actively participate and contribute more effectively in the fisheries management mechanism provided by the WCPFC, to conserve and sustainably develop migratory resources, and to combat IUU fishing, in compliance with regional and international regulations towards responsible fisheries.  The FIP will continue to encourage the issuance of a simple, written commitment from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to continue to supply swordfish catch data and respond to any changes in advice from WCPFC.  Please note that Vietnam provided an annual fishery report on tuna fisheries statistics including billfish estimates to the WCPFC in 2022, as pledged during the 11th Vietnam Tuna Fishery Annual Catch Estimates Workshop (VTFACE-11) in 2021.  The new CMM 2022-02 for North Pacific swordfish includes a provision for all CCMs to report annually to the WCPFC Commission all catches of North Pacific swordfish and all fishing effort by gear type using a template annexed to the CMM.

In regard to observer trips in the parent tuna handline fishery, these seem to have restarted in 2023, but it is not yet clear whether observers have been allocated to the handline fleet.  

The goal of this Task is to achieve a coverage of 15 vessels in the COPPA/VFFM program, five in each main province (Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen). Participation in the program continues to recover since August 2022.  There are currently ten vessels in the program (up from five in October 2020):  6 in Khan Hoa, 3 in Binh Dinh, and 1 in Phu Yen.  

A preliminary report with data collected between March and December 2022 is provided in the Supporting Documents section.  A full report for Lunar Year 2022-2023 will become available later in the year. 

 No new species of interest for conservation have been identified by the COPPA/VFM program during the last reporting period.  Regarding status, a summary of a benchmark assessment on North Pacific Ocean blue shark (Prionace glauca) conducted by the ISC in 2022 became available.  The assessment used the same model structure as the 2017 assessment but with additional data up to 2020, applying a Beverton-Holt stock-recruit relationship rather than a low fecundity stock-recruit relationship, and adopting the model ensemble approach.  The results showed that the spawning stock biomass (SSB) had declined from the mid-1970s to 1990s and that it  has since increased and stabilized around 100,000 t through the 2000s.  Although no target and limit reference points have been established for pelagic sharks, stock status reported in relation to MSY-based reference points indicates that median female SSB is at 1.170 of SSBmsy (80th percentile, 0.570-1.776) and is likely (63.5% probability) not in an overfished condition.  Recent annual fishing mortality (F2017-2019) is below Fmsy, and it is very likely (91.9% probability) that overfishing is not occurring.  The reference document provided by the Scientific Committee is available in the Supporting Documents section.  In addition, regarding the new fish attracting light technology, the at-sea trial was completed, and new trials are expected to adjust light intensity.  

Fishers continue to report that port authorities are requiring the release at sea of all sharks; however, a more formal management measure has not been issued yet.  

The FIP continues to encourage discussion among fishers regarding best practice for the safe release of sharks and rays in the Vietnam tuna and swordfish handline fishery.  The final version of the Shark Release Best Practice poster is now available and is being distributed among fishers.  In January 2023, a stakeholder meeting was held with COPPA vessel captains, representatives of VINATUNA and FIP Partner Sea Delight.  Vessel captains reported that the ring tools would be difficult and dangerous to use on large sharks but considered that the cutting tools would be more practical.  The captains also reported that the only encounters they have had with sharks in Khanh Hoa province were on the main fishing gear, and that oftentimes sharks cut the nylon monofilament fishing line.  Two vessel captains agreed to take one set of tools (one de-hooker and one line cutter) on their next trips.  Since no encounters with unwanted bycatch occurred in their last three trips, the captains decided to test the release tools using a “mockup” large fish made from a large mooring bumper.  The captains reported that the ring shaped dehooker works but is indeed difficult and dangerous for the operator to use; while the line cutter worked fine. In April 2023, a second stakeholder meeting was held online with COPPA vessel captains in Binh Dinh province.  The captains agreed to test the equipment in Binh Dinh, and the tools will be sent by May 3rd. 

Fishers in the COPPA program report that turtles have only been encountered in bait nets in Binh Dinh, and that all are being released safely.

D-FISH authorities report that the Fish Identification poster for key WCPFC species that was produced by the FIP has been posted in the 26 local fishing ports landing tuna in 12 coastal provinces.  The posters are mainly used by port staff to identify ETP species for their catch monitoring at the ports.  D-FISH authorities also report that the posters are also introduced to local fishers when they reach the port office.  D-FISH authorities expressed that the posters are useful and suggested that these are delivered to the tuna long-line and hand-line vessels as well. 

Regarding IUU and VMS regulations, Sea Delight fulfilled its liaison role between Global Seafood Watch and D-FISH, and the FIP is now waiting for news regarding any initiatives to be put in place in Vietnam.