July 2015, Phu Yen, Tuy Hoa

The workshop was lead by Vinatuna and WWF Vietnam, funded by Anova and supported by Hong Ngoc PTE

As part of the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) for the handline and longline tuna fishery in Vietnam, various stakeholders met last month in the province of Phu Yen, to take part in a Sustainability Workshop. The event was organized and sponsored by Anova Food USA/Fishing & Living, in partnership with the Vietnam Tuna Association (Vinatuna) and WWF Vietnam. Over 30 fishermen attended the workshop, with strong support from local processor, Hong Ngoc. Government staff from the fisheries management department also took part in the workshop, talking about the importance of data collection, social standards, quality standards and fisheries management for the sustainability of the resource and the future of fishing communities. WWF Vietnam and Vinatuna spoke to the workshop about the FIP and how fishermen and processors have an important role to play by taking part in improvement activities, such as collecting information on catch and effort as well as testing new methods to mitigate unwanted by catch and ecosystem impacts.

Phu Yen is one of the 3 provinces in the scope of the on-going FIP in Vietnam and has been part of other regional improvement projects such as the West Pacific East Asia Project (WPEA), led by the WCPFC. Significant improvements were made through this program but challenges remain. The FIP has therefore planned a number of activities to improve the management of the fishery, such as observer, logbooks and port-sampling programs among others. Through its social and sustainability initiative, Fishing & Living, Anova Food USA has been engaged in the FIP since its inception and will continue to support the project through field activities and supply chain engagement.

Over 30 fishermen attended the workshop

The workshop gave a demonstration on how to use turtle de-hookers and other by catch mitigation equipment