The effectiveness of the "boat linkage" model for seafood exploitation in Cua Lo

(Baonghean)Recently, the model of fishing boats linking into groups and teams to exploit aquatic products at sea to support each other in production, product consumption, search and rescue, etc. has been actively implemented by fishermen in Cua Lo Town. In addition to the difficulties, the model has brought significant results to fishermen.

Visiting the family of fisherman Vo Van Phuc (born in 1963) in block 7 - the owner of 2 pairs of boats with a capacity of 320 - 400CV, currently considered the most effective "boat association" group in Nghi Thuy ward, it is known that seafaring is a family tradition. Previously, due to lack of capital, he only dared to buy small boats and exploit near shore, so his income was quite limited.

Realizing that only big ships and boats going out to sea can change their lives. In 2000, the couple decided to invite their brothers to contribute capital to buy a pair of ships worth 1.2 billion VND. In 2007, Mr. Phuc separated to own a pair of ships and is now the owner of 2 pairs of ships with an output of about 120 tons/month. The total annual income is about 1 billion VND. Ms. Hoang Thi Sau - Mr. Phuc's wife happily said: Thanks to the "ship-boat association" model, workers' income is more stable, fishermen feel secure to stick to the fishing grounds and the sea. In addition to exploiting seafood, the family also opened a fishery logistics business to serve the ships before going out to sea.

Currently, in Nghi Thuy ward, there are 19 pairs of ships/166 ships and boats operating under the model of linking out to sea. Immediately after the policy of "linking ships and boats" of the Farmers' Association of Cua Lo Town, the Farmers' Association of Nghi Thuy ward has promoted and mobilized fishermen to form groups to support each other in exploiting seafood. Accordingly, every 3 ships form 1 group (including 2 fishing ships and 1 specialized ship for logistics). Each trip to sea during the southern fishing season lasts 1-3 days, and during the winter fishing season lasts 5-7 days, so the transportation of seafood to shore is timely.

Previously, before the establishment of the model of linking fishing boats, the seafood caught often had to be iced and salted, which did not ensure quality and made it difficult to sell the products. Since the day the boat owners linked together, fishermen have been able to fish without worrying about transporting products to shore. Mr. Truong Ngoc Hai - Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Thuy Ward said: The most obvious effect of this model is to reduce transportation costs for boats, increase fishing output, and stabilize workers' income. In particular, this model has solved the problem of many workers participating at the same time (on average, a fishing boat needs 16 main workers). When a boat detects a fish movement, it will notify each other to fish together. In 2011 alone, the average income of fishermen fluctuated from 30 to 90 million VND/person/year. The output in the first 7 months of 2012 of the whole ward is estimated at 3,500 tons.

Nguyen Huy Nam - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Hai Ward also said: In the past, the ward has built a model of "linking boats", every 3-5 boats form a group with the task of communicating with each other about fishing grounds for exploitation, when there is a storm or important work at sea, both reducing fuel costs and creating convenience in catching seafood. According to calculations, if participating in the "linked boat group" plus increasing the capacity of ships and boats, fishermen can save about 30% of costs for each trip out to sea. This not only helps to overcome difficulties during the "price storm" period but also helps Nghi Hai fishermen exploit seafood with higher output.

With this approach, the entire Cua Lo Town has now established more than 37 groups and teams in four fishing wards: Nghi Hai, Nghi Tan, Nghi Thuy and Thu Thuy. The Farmers' Association has actively promoted and mobilized fishermen to invest in building new large-capacity boats (110 - 420 CV), shifting from inshore and small-scale fishing to offshore fishing, both increasing output and creating jobs for workers. On the other hand, the number of boats exploiting seafood inshore and using explosives and electric shocks has been significantly reduced.

The effectiveness is clear, however, there are still some difficulties, especially in terms of capital. Some teams do not have investment capital, so they do not have the conditions to repair, upgrade boats, invest in new jobs, purchase equipment, or boldly go to sea to find new fishing grounds... affecting production efficiency. Borrowing preferential capital to reproduce or develop local production still faces many difficulties. To solve these problems, localities need to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to participate in the model of linking boats to support each other at sea; the teams unite to implement according to the team's convention and have confirmation from the locality. In addition, the State needs to soon issue regulations guiding the establishment of cooperative groups for fishing at sea and policies to support production when fishermen participate in teams, especially policies on lending capital to develop production.

Thanh Thuy