Environnmental rapid assessment made public

Participants confirmed

Updated 2023 workplan

Workplan made public

The FIP has developed a report that serves as the legal basis for establishing a general FMP for the Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

A summary of sampling data from the last 6 months shows that the main concern for trawling is the bycatch of juvenile and immature seafood species, with no encounters of ETP species.

A report on data sampling from April- October 2023 has been made available; more than 90 samples have been analyzed for average length and weight consisting of 20 different species. No ETP species were recorded. 

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has published a draft National marine spatial planning report for the period 2021 - 2030. The draft report's findings will inform future meetings with fisheries management agencies to develop a trawl management plan tailored to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and Vietnam's overall development plan.

A presentation on FMP and the role of stakeholders was developed and presented to Ba Ria fisheries staff. 

The FIP participated in a training course on fisheries management and stakeholder involvement. At the training, a review of past stock assessments was presented and discussed which led to an agreement on next steps towards developing a FMP. 

Sampling in Ba Via has begun and initial results from the first month of sampling have been made available. 

A draft of 'Trawl Fisheries Management Plan for Ba Ria – Vung Tau trawl fishery' has been developed and made available. 

Guidance on stock assessment methods for multispecies fisheries has been finalized and published, covering the importance of stock assessment in fisheries management, data needs and options for single-species and multi-species assessments, and the decision-making between these approaches.

A sampling plan has been developed and is currently under review

The FIP coordinator had a meeting with representatives of IUCN Vietnam and WWF Vietnam to discuss potential opportunities for co-management and partnering on the development of the FMP.

A management framework has been developed and  interim guidance on data collection for the Steering committee provided. 

A review of the trawl fishery data collection methods has been conducted; report made available

A report on the fishing impacts on marine resources in Ba Ria has been published showing that among the 12 surveyed fisheries, different fishing methods exhibit varying proportions of juvenile fish in the catch, with the highest proportion observed in purse seine fishing.

ToR developed for multi-species stock assessement guidance

Proof of budget has been made available for FIP plan implementation

Partner agreement has been signed by all participants & grant agreement for FMP implementation has been signed off on. 

Increase to PI 2.3.2; The management and protection of ETPs is codified in the Penal Code and the Fisheries Law. Adjusted guidelines for implementing administrative violations in the fisheries sector have increased fines for violations that do not reach the level of criminal prosecution. 

Increase to PI 2.3.3; Information on ETP species has been made available. The Con Dao marine ecosystem is home to 7 critical endangered species and 67 endangered species including the Dugong, Green sea turtle, Leatherback and Hawksbill sea turtle. The results of research and actual sampling show that trawling in BRVT does not have a significant impact on ETP species.

Increase to PI 2.4.3; The nature, distribution, and vulnerability of the habitats in the waters of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, as well as the main impacts of the Unit of Assessment (UoA) on these commonly encountered habitats, have been investigated and understood.

Increase to PI 2.2.3; There is enough information to estimate the impact of the UoA on the main non-target species and the information is adequate enough to support measures to manage main non-target species. 

Increase to PI 2.4.2; The Vietnamese government has approved the establishment of a new Con Dao Marine Protected Area (MPA) and two artificial habitat areas for aquatic species in the waters of BRVT. At the provincial level, the number of trawlers has been significantly reduced and several measures have been implemented and regularly monitored and reported.

Increase to PI 2.5.3; The FIP conducted studies on stock and species composition in the Southeast waters across three stages: 1996-1997, 2000-2005, and 2012-2018. Over time, high economic value species dominated in the first stage, while the most recent stage (2012-2018) saw a decrease in high trophic level species, an increase in trash fish, and a shift towards more pelagic fish and fewer demersal fish.

Increase to PI 2.3.3; The FIP conducted a study in coastal and inshore areas of Ba Ria to identify and analyze ETP species finding 432 species across 236 genera and 107 families. Among the species identified, 16 species were classified as threatened. Additionally, the study proposes adding 71 marine species into a threatened category.

Decision No.1090/QD-TTg was issued which approves the National Program for the development of effective and sustainable fisheries from 2022 to 2025. The program emphasizes a need to enhance the brand and value of Vietnamese seafood which involves implementing FIPs.

Increase to PI 2.3.1; Information on ETP species has been made available. The Con Dao marine ecosystem is home to 7 critical endangered species and 67 endangered species including the Dugong, Green sea turtle, Leatherback and Hawksbill sea turtle.

Increase to PI 2.4.1; Report No. 81/BC-UBND of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province highlights that the situation of integrated management of and protection resources and marine environment and islands in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in forest and marine biodiversity resources are preserved and protected without deterioration in quantity and quality.