Seafood is scarce and prices are soaring, but fishermen in Nghe An are delighted.

Around 6 a.m., the fishing boats of Mr. Phung Ba Thu from Yen Dinh Hamlet, Cua Lo Ward, docked at the harbor with great joy. After a night at sea, Mr. Thu's boats brought back nearly 8 tons of various types of fish, mainly mackerel and scad.

With prices soaring after the storm and high yields, this fishing trip brought him and his crew nearly 250 million VND. Thu excitedly shared: “Fishing after the storm was more favorable, the yield was good, and the selling price was also high. Seafood was scarce, so traders bought it right at the dock; as soon as we came ashore, there were people waiting. All the fishermen were thrilled.”

At this time, many fishing boats from Quynh Anh commune, Quynh Mai ward, and Tan Mai ward are also returning to port after nights at sea. Short fishing trips, with only 2-3 workers per boat, have yielded good prices, with the main product, herring, being purchased at the dock at 20,000-25,000 VND/kg, nearly double the price before the storm. Although the catch only fluctuates between 150-200 kg per night, each boat still earns about 4 million VND. After deducting expenses, each fisherman earns approximately 1.5-2 million VND.

At Quynh Lap fishing port (Tan Mai ward), the atmosphere became even more vibrant as dozens of fishing boats, after nearly a week at sea, returned one after another, bringing with them holds of scad, herring, mackerel, squid, etc. Although the yield was only average, thanks to high prices, each boat earned 150 million VND or more.

The owner of the fishing vessel NA 91292TS, Mr. Ho Sy Ky, who docked at the port on the morning of July 31st, said: “The ship has 5 crew members and went out to sea to fish in the Gulf of Tonkin. After 5 days, we brought back nearly 10 tons of fish and squid. Seafood prices have increased sharply, and each fishing trip yielded a net profit of over 150 million VND, with each crew member receiving a salary of 5 million VND. After many days ashore avoiding the storm, everyone is excited because this fishing trip was very successful.”

Due to the prolonged heavy rains and storms, the supply of seafood on the market has been disrupted, causing prices of items such as herring, scad, mackerel, squid, etc., to increase sharply. Specifically, scad is currently being purchased at 17,000 VND/kg, herring at 25,000 VND/kg, mackerel at 40,000 VND/kg, and various types of squid ranging from 250,000 to 270,000 VND/kg. At fishing ports, traders are bustling in and out, and many establishments even have to "place deposits" in advance to reserve goods due to the scarcity of supply.

Alongside the enthusiastic atmosphere of the fishermen, on shore, processing facilities and cold storage warehouses are also entering their peak season. Cold storage warehouses, steam ovens, and factories drying scad and squid have all increased their production shifts. Batches of fresh fish and squid are processed and frozen as soon as the boats dock.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tai, owner of a cold storage facility in Cua Lo ward, said: “After the storm, seafood is scarce, so prices are very high, and market demand has also increased sharply because the tourist season is at its peak. We have to mobilize more workers and work overtime to process and freeze seafood for hotels and restaurants in a timely manner, while also taking advantage of export opportunities and selling locally. The return of hot weather is favorable for drying scad fish and making sun-dried squid… This is a crucial period; if we don't take advantage of it, we will run out of supplies.”

Along the cold storage facilities and fish steaming workshops, a bustling atmosphere of work continues from early morning until late at night. The steaming ovens operate at full capacity, and workers have to work overtime continuously to meet order deadlines.

Ms. Ho Thi Quynh, a worker at a fish processing facility in Quynh Mai ward, said: “After several days of being stranded ashore due to storms, now the boats are coming in continuously, and the steaming plant is running all day. Workers have to work overtime from early morning until late at night, but everyone is happy because they have steady work and a decent income.”

With existing advantages in processing and preservation systems, along with the dynamism of fishermen and businesses, coastal localities in Nghe An are making the most of the "golden opportunity" after the storm to increase the value of seafood exploitation and processing.

Although the fishing trips haven't yielded abundant catches, the sharp increase in selling prices has brought significant income, further motivating fishermen to continue fishing, and simultaneously creating a vibrant and urgent atmosphere in the processing and consumption of seafood in the area.