The open sea is enriching the lives of fishermen in Central Vietnam.

(Baonghean.vn) - The open sea is the livelihood of fishermen, but some individuals have used the pretext of environmental protection and seeking justice to lure gullible people into selling their boats and participating in protests and disturbances.

"The fishermen themselves determine the effectiveness of the catch."

Following the Formosa company's wastewater discharge that polluted the marine environment, protests and calls to boycott Formosa occurred in Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces.

Most of these disturbances are carried out in the name of environmental protection and demanding justice, making them easily attract large crowds and create a ripple effect in society, especially through the internet. However, each incident is meticulously planned and orchestrated by a group of individuals. They are accompanied by banners and flags, transported by car, equipped with loudspeakers, and filmed and photographed, with live coverage on social media. The words spoken by these individuals contain absolutely no empathy or concern for the people; instead, they are filled with glee, triumph, shouting, incitement, and denial of all the efforts of the Government, ministries, and local authorities in addressing environmental problems...

Fishermen from Manh Son parish, Tien Thuy commune (Quynh Luu district) are delighted after a bountiful fishing trip. (Photo: Archival image)

While the Formosa wastewater discharge incident, which polluted the central coastal region, serves as a costly lesson in environmental management, and the damage to the local fisheries industry is undeniable, we have also gained experience in assessing and addressing environmental "hot spots," and continuously strive to find suitable and feasible solutions for socio-economic development while protecting the environment in all situations.

Compensation for damages to the people has been urgently implemented by local authorities in the region. The government has also implemented many policies to support fishermen in borrowing capital to build new and renovate large-capacity vessels, helping them to venture further out to sea for extended periods. The marine environment has become cleaner, the seabed ecosystem has been restored, and marine species have returned.

Since the beginning of the year, along with fishermen in the central provinces, fishermen in Nghe An have continuously enjoyed bountiful fishing seasons. Every morning, boats return to the fishing ports of Lach Quen, Lach Van, and Cua Hoi laden with fish and shrimp. Each five to seven-day fishing trip yields tens of millions of dong in revenue, and sometimes hundreds of millions of dong. From Hoang Mai and Quynh Luu to Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, and Cua Lo, the coastal villages of Nghe An are becoming increasingly prosperous and well-developed.

Fish arrive at Lach Quen wharf, Quynh Thuan commune (Quynh Luu district). (Photo: Archival image)

Fortunately, thanks to preferential loan support policies and local capital mobilization, fishermen in Nghe An have invested in upgrading the capacity of their offshore fishing fleet. Larger vessels with powerful engines have increased rapidly, with the total capacity of fishing vessels in the province now reaching nearly 570,000 horsepower, an increase of nearly 13% compared to 2015.

In the first quarter of 2017, the entire province harvested 27,400 tons of various seafood products, worth over 620 billion VND, a 20% increase compared to the same period in both volume and value. The number of people working in the fishing industry also increased by nearly 220, bringing the total number of regularly employed workers to 18,410. The lives of people involved in fishing and seafood processing are becoming increasingly prosperous. The open sea has been, is, and will forever be a source of livelihood and wealth for fishermen in Central Vietnam in general...

The Duc Tam 01 vessel (recently built under a loan program according to Decree 67) at Cua Lo port. (Photo courtesy of the archives)

Therefore, those "ringleaders," using the guise of environmental protection and demanding justice to lure gullible people into selling their boats, participating in protests, causing disturbances, making false accusations, and opposing the Party and the regime with misguided rhetoric, cannot deceive public opinion. Their actions are certainly never for the benefit of the fishermen's livelihoods.

The government has affirmed its stance of "not sacrificing the environment for economic development." The results of addressing the Formosa incident in recent times are clear and consistent evidence of Vietnam's sustainable development path and goals. Therefore, everyone needs to be vigilant against the rhetoric of extremist and subversive elements that go against the Party's views, the State's laws, and the nation's moral values.

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