Nghe An seafood prices drop but still difficult to sell due to the impact of Covid-19

Seafood prices at Lach Quen fishing port have decreased recently. Photo: Xuan Hoang

On this occasion,Lach Quen fishing port(Quynh Luu) is quite bustling with fishing boats returning to port, bringing lots of seafood after days of fishing at sea. However, unlike before, this time the fishermen are not very excited because the price of seafood has decreased.

Fisherman Nguyen Quang Vinh said that the same type of boiled squid sold offshore, which previously cost 120,000 VND/kg, has now dropped to 100,000 - 110,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Hoa, onetraderSeafood buyers said that in previous years, in the summer, seafood, especially squid, sold very well because there were many tourists. But this year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, beach tourism was deserted, restaurants were closed, causing seafood consumption to slow down, so they had to reduce the purchase price.

Beachside restaurants are deserted, so seafood is difficult to sell. Photo: Quang An

Lach Van fishing port (Dien Chau) is the port of call for most small boats fishing close to shore. Therefore, most of the seafood here is fresh: Squid, shrimp, crab, etc. The productsseafoodHere, traders often classify seafood on the spot, the delicious and beautiful types are supplied to restaurants, hotels... to serve tourists; the rest is consumed in rural markets. However, in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic recurring in many places in the country, causing a sharp decrease in tourists, restaurants and hotels have no guests, which means fresh seafood is difficult to sell.

Fisherman Nguyen Van Kien in Dien Ngoc commune said that normally in the summer, shrimp, crab, and squid prices increase, but this year they have decreased by 10-15%, and traders are not competing to buy like before.

Many restaurants in beach areas in Nghe An have had to close due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Quang An

Observation at local beachesNghe Anshows that most restaurants have temporarily closed; some shops are open but have few customers. Ms. Nhung, the owner of a restaurant in the Quynh Nghia beach area (Quynh Luu) said: In previous years, in the summer, her restaurant consumed hundreds of tons of fresh seafood every day, but this year due to the Covid-19 epidemic recurring, there were few beach tourists, so she stopped buying seafood and closed the shop.

The Covid-19 epidemic has recurred and is evolving complicatedly in many provinces and cities in the country, affectingmarketconsumption of goods, of which seafood is one of the affected items. Fishing requires large investments to go offshore, so when seafood is difficult to consume and prices decrease, it affects the lives of fishermen./.