Warning: The "eight trigram" net is wiping out aquatic and marine life.

(Baonghean.vn) - For many years, the use of cage traps (also known as hexagonal nets or folding nets) by fishermen to catch aquatic products has been rampant in many localities throughout the province, seriously affecting aquatic resources and the ecological environment.

For a long time, fishermen in the coastal areas of our province have used hexagonal nets to catch aquatic and marine life. This has had a significant impact on marine resources and biodiversity. Not only are they used for fishing at sea, but many farmers also use hexagonal nets to decimate aquatic life in canals, ditches, and rice fields.

Boats carrying illegal fishing nets, having just returned from decimating coastal marine life, have anchored at Lach Corn, Quynh Di Ward, Hoang Mai Town.

Fishermen in Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district, are collecting their "spoils" at Lach Van wharf following a recent crackdown on marine resources.

Besides fishing at sea, farmers also use octagonal cage traps to decimate aquatic resources in rice fields and canals. Photo: Farmers in Phan Dang Luu hamlet, Nam Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, deploying octagonal cage traps in Con Sim rice field.

Around 5 PM, we set out the cages, and by about 6 AM the next morning, we collect them. The catch—crabs, fish, shrimp—all end up in the cages.

According to our research, cage traps, also known as octagonal nets, originate from China. These are not ordinary nets, but rather rectangular cages with openings resembling basket traps, allowing aquatic life to enter but preventing escape. Each cage trap is approximately 8 meters long and costs 270,000 VND.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Luong, Head of the Provincial Fisheries Resources Department, said: "For a long time, the practice of fishermen using cage traps has been depleting nearshore marine resources. These are fishing tools that the state has banned from use by fishermen. From 2015 to the present, the Department, in coordination with relevant agencies, has confiscated over 400 cage traps from more than 10 individuals in Nghi Quang, Nghi Loc, Quynh Di, and Hoang Mai town."

The Sub-Department is continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect and handle cases of fishermen using cage traps to exploit marine resources. However, the current difficulty is that due to limited personnel, the Sub-Department has not been able to completely resolve this situation.

Van Truong