Implementing a project to observe fishing vessels by satellite

Regional Center III (belonging to Vietnam Maritime Electronic Information Company) has just introduced and approved the implementation plan of the project on the observation system of fishing vessels, fishing areas and aquatic resources by defense technology. Crystal (MOVIMAR).

This is a cooperation project between Vietnam and France signed by ODA of the French Government which is expected to be implemented in 3 years, from 2011-2013.

Offshore fishing vessel (Photo: Nguyen Huu)

The basic content of the project is to build an Information Integration Center (THEMIS Center) located in Hanoi and two monitoring centers, the North in Hai Phong and the South in Vung Tau; equipped with 3,000 satellite connection devices for fishing vessels in 28 coastal provinces including: 2,850 equipment for offshore fishing vessels for squid fishing, ocean tuna fishing and some ships made other fisheries exploitation and 150 backup equipment for fishing vessels and some public service units; training and technology transfer using satellite technology, remote sensing image processing for Vietnamese staff working at THEMIS Center and areas.

The mandatory selection criteria of the project is that fishing vessels must have a total main engine capacity of 90 cv or more. Marine fishing vessels operating in Vietnamese waters are organized into groups and teams. Each fleet has one ship equipped with satellite connection.

Up to now, there have been 2,849 fishing vessels registered to install satellite equipment out of a total of 3,000 ships of the project, in which Tien Giang has registered 100 fishing vessels installing satellite equipment according to the approved allocation plan.