FishSource

Vietnam yellowfin tuna - handline (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-09-16

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2014-09-01

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: VinaTuna (V), WWF (W)

Stock Profile Link
Yellowfin tuna - Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Comments:

This is a June 2024 FIP and the last stage 4 result was reported in June 2022 making it 24 months old. With the last stage 4 result on the cusp of 24 months old and recent stage 3 progress reported, the FIP remains C rated.

1. FIP Development	Apr 14	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 April 2014 — MSC scoring 15 December 2013 — MSC pre-assessment and scoping document
2. FIP Launch	Sep 12	Confirmation of project participants 12 September 2012 — Suppliers organized
2. FIP Launch	Jan 24	Workplan made public 1 January 2024 — Updated 2024 Workplan 23 January 2023 — Updated 2023 workplan 31 December 2019 — Updated FIP workplan 2 February 2018 — 2018 action plan 1 October 2015 — Updated Action Plan for 2016 1 September 2014 — FIP action plan
3. FIP Implementation	Jun 24	FIP activities undertaken 25 June 2024 — The FIP has expanded C-hook testing at sea, with the addition of a Hook Type data element in COPPA e-monitoring that will facilitate comparative testing of C vs. J hooks, as well as fisher awareness activities. 25 June 2024 — The FIP has continued the crew-based monitoring program (COPPA); 67 trips were conducted between January- June 2024 with yellowfin tuna making up 82.8% of the total catch volume. 1 June 2024 — A training session was held for fishers on the Fins Naturally Attached policy and mitigation of ETP species interactions. 1 December 2023 — Advocacy on FNA policy has continued through the distribution of shark awareness posters and materials throughout all major tuna fishing ports of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, and Binh Dinh. 30 June 2023 — The FIP has developed posters to ID key bycatch species in the fishery and posters that outline appropriate shark release protocols. 30 June 2023 — Crew-based monitoring (COPPA) remains ongoing and data from Q1 & Q2 of 2023 has been made available; 41 trips were conducted between January 2023- June 2023 and an additional 4 vessels were added to the list of piloting vessels. 9 June 2023 — DFISH sent a letter to the Minister announcing the completion of the TMP (Tuna Management Plan) and is seeking official approval. 1 June 2023 — The FIP has developed draft ToRs for the Crew Observer Photographic Protocol (COPPA) Expansion 31 December 2022 — The FIP continues to work with fishers to transition current logbooks to electronic versions and implement the COPPA at-sea monitoring program. 16 October 2022 — The draft national Tuna Management Plan continues to be developed; a TMP workshop was held to outline objectives related to incorporating LRP into the harvest strategy 1 July 2022 — FIP has created outreach materials such as a WCFPC prohibited species list poster and shark handling guidelines to be distributed with DFISH endorsement 27 June 2022 — A WCPFC/ WPEA harvest strategy workshop was conducted and was attended by participants from DFISH & RIMF; the harvest strategy continues to be in development 26 April 2022 — FIP consultation meeting held; DFish committed to assess the application of WCPFC measures with support from the FIP 19 April 2022 — 11th annual Vietnam/ WCPFC Tuna Fisheries Catch Estimates workshop conducted; recommendations made available 15 April 2022 — Crew-based monitoring (COPPA) continued in 2022; data from 2021/2022 has been collected and organized into a report 22 February 2022 — Circle hook study conducted comparing catch efficiencies between C and J hooks; paper made available 1 January 2022 — The 2019/2020 data audit undertaken by SPC staff noted that the recent fishery monitoring has made good progress towards an arbitrary short-term target of 40% for landings and logbooks 19 August 2021 — The 17th Session of the Scientific Committee of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the WCPO held 1 June 2021 — DFISH have provided some further detail on piloting of harvest quotas in yellowfin and bigeye tuna 1 June 2021 — The FIP-supported elogbook app has been piloted in 40 vessels; FIP Partner Sea Delight with the FIP team has developed a "Decree 26 Poster" on awareness of ETP species management issues 22 April 2021 — Annual catch estimates have been drafted 1 April 2021 — The Vietnam Tuna Fishing Assessment Annual Conference (VTFACE-10) under WPEA/DFISH was conducted in April, with WWF and VinaTuna participatiuon 1 March 2021 — The multi-stakeholder PPP tuna group including representation from WWF and Vinatuna has been formally endorsed 11 October 2020 — Decision 644: A system to develop the role out and Management of Quota has been established 1 August 2020 — The eLogbook app was completed and tested in July 2020, with Fisher training[1] and piloting of e-logbook under the FIP and implemented by VinaTuna commencing in Q4 of 2020. 1 July 2020 — A baitfish species risk assessment was completed in Augist 2020, indicating low risk for bait species. 1 June 2020 — Workplan has been updated 1 December 2019 — The Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean held their fifteenth regular session of the Technical and Compliance Committee and a report was produced and issued. 1 November 2019 — A draft report on the Use and Effectiveness of Circle Hooks Tested in 16 Handline Vessels was developed. 1 March 2019 — In March 2019, the WPEA project implemented a Planning/Strategy Meeting for a National Observer Program. 30 September 2018 — Under the new Fisheries Law (effective January 1, 2019), there are plans to introduce logbook reporting to unloading port as part of a port-based management system. 28 September 2018 — Risk Assessment and Ecosystem based approach to fisheries managment trainings have been completed (link to the download the document can be found below). 29 March 2018 — The Shark NPOA has been drafted but not yet approved. 29 March 2018 — Gear losses have been incorporated into the observer program but the habitat impact assessment has not been completed yet (link to download the excel file can be found below). 29 March 2018 — RIMF received training in risk assessment and has completed the risk assessment report for 2016 based on the observer program data. 29 March 2018 — The IUU National Plan of Action and Government responses to the EU Yellow Card satisfy the risk assessment of enforcement actions and sanctions for non-compliance are now included in the IUU NPOA. 29 March 2018 — Completed WCPFC report as required, however only limited reporting on management effectiveness to-date; no Part II (bycatch) report submitted yet. 29 March 2018 — The WPEA program has introduced the EAFM concept, so training has occurred in modeling but may not be sufficient to fully assess ecosystem impacts. 1 March 2018 — The observer program and circle hooks trials are gathering data to enable this type of ecosystem impact modelling. 1 March 2018 — Shark species continue to be covered under the observer program and awareness raising activities are planned by Anova, VinaTuna and WWF. 29 March 2017 — EAFM concept is now mentioned in the revised Fisheries Law and Tuna Management Plan. 1 March 2017 — Participating in SC WGs and WCPFC general session discussions on reference points 1 November 2016 — Rebuilding strategy for bigeye tuna 1 December 2015 — Document the catch of species in the handline and longline fisheries. 1 October 2015 — Several milestones for outcomes 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 completed and others are ongoing. 25 August 2014 — Implementation workshop with stakeholders
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Jun 22	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 June 2022 — Decree 26, Appendix II has been updated; blue sharks have been added and are now fully protected by law and prohibited for capture 24 August 2020 — PI score increase 2.1.2 & 2.1.3; various shark species have been assessed at medium risk for handline fisheries. 31 December 2019 — Increase in MSC PI 2.4.3; Limited or no habitat interactions from handline gear - Default >80 31 December 2019 — Increase in 3.2.2.; BMT score: Decision making framework in place 8 March 2019 — Decree 26 prohibits all landings of ETP species. 1 September 2018 — National Tuna Management Plan evidencing that Tuna Fishery Consultation Council is operational 31 March 2018 — Sanctions for non-compliance within IUU NPOA (follow the link below to download the associated document). 31 January 2018 — Logbook coverage is still <75% for LL and HL but Vietnam has just issued new regulation on logbook (Circular 02/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated 31Jan2018) which requires the captains to send the docments including Logbook within 01 working day since the landing for Catch Origin certificate. 1 January 2018 — PI score increase 2.5.3; sufficient ecosystem information exists to understand key elements of the ecosystem. 30 November 2017 — The new Fisheries Law was approved by the National Assembly in November 2017, but will be valid beginning 1 January 2018. 29 March 2017 — PI score increase 2.5.2; Despite the fact that ecosystem modelling has not been incorporated into WPEA, sufficient evidence is available from SPC modelling that tuna exploitation has a minimal impact on the ecosystem 1 January 2017 — Observer data and port sampling verification, and prepare summary reports of main and vulnerable species (retained) interactions other than bigeye tuna (follow link below to download the associated document). 1 January 2017 — Extend port sampling procedures to cover retained species (follow link below to download associated document). 31 December 2016 — Increase in several BMT scores 1.2.3 and 2.1.3 1 January 2016 — Introduction Vietnamese management measures for all tuna fisheries in Vietnam; 1 January 2016 — Vietnam compliant with CMM 2008-01, CMM 2012-01 or any subsequent amendment 1 January 2016 — Compliance monitoring system strengthened 1 October 2015 — Risk assessment of enforcement actions following the introduction of P1 and P2 associated management measures 1 October 2015 — Collection of biological samples to adequately assess Pacific ecosystems ; 1 October 2015 — Establish an observer scheme to monitor all catches of retained species and document the level of discarding from the handline and longline fisheries; Extend port sampling procedures to cover retained species (and informed by the observer scheme);Document observer data and port sampling verification, and prepare summary reports of main and vulnerable species (retained) interactions other than bigeye tuna; 1 October 2015 — Establishing a framework within which harvest control rules would be set and delegating appropriate responsibilities to the Provinces 1 October 2015 — Logbook coverage > 75% for LL and HL, and improved coverage of other fisheries; 1 January 2015 — Implement shark CMMs 2010-07 and CMM 2011-03/CITES App 2; Ensure that all shark species are covered under observer reporting above.
5. Improvements on the Water	Jan 20	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 January 2020 — Increase to PI score 2.2.1; various shark species have been assessed at medium risk for handline fisheries. 1 October 2019 — Increase in 2.1.1. BMT score; Bigeye tuna is assessed as not overfished or subject to overfishing (McKechnie (2017)). No Conditions are required while the stock is at MSY. 31 December 2016 — Increase in several BMT scores 1 October 2015 — Increase in MSC BMT management score 1 January 2015 — Increase to PI score 2.5.1; It is highly likely that there are minimal ecosystem impacts from the tuna handline fishery.
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public