Alarm: Bagua net destroys aquatic and seafood products

(Baonghean.vn) - For many years, the situation of fishermen using baskets (also known as octagonal nets, folding nets) to catch aquatic products has been happening widely in many localities in the province, seriously affecting aquatic resources and the ecological environment.

For a long time, fishermen in coastal areas of our province have used bagua nets to catch aquatic and marine products. This has greatly affected marine resources and biodiversity. In addition to fishing at sea, many farmers also use bagua nets to destroy aquatic products in canals and fields.

A boat carrying a fishing net that had just exhausted the coastal seafood resources anchored at Lach Con, Quynh Di ward, Hoang Mai town.

Fishermen in Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau are collecting "spoils of war" at Lach Van wharf from the raid on seafood resources.

When fishing at sea, farmers also use octagonal cages to destroy aquatic resources in fields and canals. Photo: Farmers in Phan Dang Luu hamlet, Nam Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district release octagonal cages on Con Sim field.

Around 5pm, we release the cages and collect them around 6am tomorrow morning. The products, including crabs, fish, shrimp, and prawns, all go into the cages.

According to research, cages or also known as octagonal nets originated from China. These are not ordinary nets but rectangular cages with basket-like doors for aquatic species to enter and have no way out. Each cage is about 8m long and costs 270,000 VND.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Luong, Head of the provincial Department of Aquatic Resources, said: For a long time, fishermen have been using baskets to reduce nearshore marine resources. This is a fishing tool that has been banned by the state from being used by fishermen to catch aquatic products. Since 2015, the Department has coordinated with relevant agencies to confiscate over 400 baskets from over 10 individuals in Nghi Quang, Nghi Loc, Quynh Di, Hoang Mai Town.

The Department is continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect and handle fishermen using cages to exploit seafood. However, the current difficulty is that due to limited resources, the Department has not been able to completely handle the above situation.

Van Truong