A bounty from the sea at the beginning of the year.

(Baonghean) - Nghi Thuy fishing port (Cua Lo) was bustling and lively early in the morning on the first day of the new year. On the dock, fishermen were waiting for their boats to return with holds full of shrimp and fish - the "first bounty of the year" that brings them hope for a bountiful year, calm seas and favorable weather...

The first trip of the year holds special significance for fishermen in coastal areas, so the departure ceremony, a traditional ritual often performed by fishermen in Cua Lo at the region's sacred temples, is indispensable. For the family of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh (Block 2, Nghi Thuy Ward), this year's departure ceremony included all members of the extended family. Before the altar of the Sea God at Cua Lach Temple, everyone prayed for a smooth and successful first trip of the year, with a bountiful catch of shrimp and fish. This also marked the first launch of the family's boat. Therefore, all the rituals, from offering incense to making prayers, were performed solemnly and respectfully, in accordance with the customs of the coastal people.

Nghi Thuy fishing port on New Year's Day.

Mr. Thanh comes from a family with a long history of seafaring. Seven years ago, due to the hardships of life, he decided to seek work in the Czech Republic. After nearly ten years abroad, accumulating a considerable amount of capital, everyone thought he would relax and enjoy his time overseas. But no, with his hardworking nature, less than two months after returning home, he discussed with his brothers the idea of ​​pooling their resources to build a fishing boat. The 90-horsepower boat, worth nearly 200 million VND, was supposed to be launched in 2013, but they decided to wait until after the Lunar New Year to "settle for an auspicious date." So, on the afternoon of the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year), while families were still immersed in the festive atmosphere, Mr. Thanh and his family members set sail. On the morning of the third day, their first fishing trip returned with four tons of fish. Along with his family, nearly a hundred other boats in the area also set sail on the 3rd and 4th days of Tet. By the morning of the 5th, the Nghi Thuy ward's fish market was bustling with activity. Boats continuously docked, carrying holds full of fish, signaling a bountiful harvest and a new year filled with good fortune.

Even someone with nearly 20 years of experience at sea like Mr. Nguyen Phi Thuong (Block 2, Nghi Thuy Ward) couldn't have imagined that this year's first fishing trips of the year would be so successful. On the very first day, they harvested 4 tons of fish, and in the following days, approximately 3 to 4 tons each. With an average price of 15 million VND per ton, after deducting all expenses, each crew member earns between 1.5 and 2 million VND per trip. We were also invited by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh's family to be the first to visit their new boat. Standing on the deck, showing us the catch from yesterday's trip, he shared: "If every day is this good, it would be even better than working abroad." Mr. Thanh's boat currently employs four regular workers, each earning between 2.5 and 3 million VND per month. This income, compared to working in other regions, may not be high, but because they only work a few hours each day when the ship docks, people can take advantage of the opportunity to do other jobs. More importantly, working on their own sea, using their traditional occupation, is also a way for people in coastal areas to maintain the sovereignty of their homeland's seas and islands.

Spring is also the main harvest season, so cold storage facilities are taking advantage of this time to stock up for 2014. Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet (from Block 2, Nghi Thuy Ward), who has been at this fish market since the morning of the 3rd day of Tet (Lunar New Year), said: "Currently, the only worry is not having enough fish; otherwise, we can sell everything we have." Looking around the fish market, we counted 4 to 5 trucks waiting to buy goods. Trucks constantly came and went, and heavy trays of fish were being hastily transferred from the boats to the cargo holds, creating a truly bustling atmosphere at the fish port. Roughly speaking, in just the first few days of the new year, hundreds of tons of fish have been sold, generating tens of billions of dong in revenue. The joy of a bountiful fish harvest has spread to the market, reaching even the small traders. The stories about the early days of fishing were therefore more enthusiastic, not only talking about sticky rice cakes and gatherings with relatives, but everyone began to hope for a bountiful harvest in the Year of the Horse and even considered changing boats and upgrading their horsepower so they could fish further offshore.

Following in the footsteps of Ms. Ho Thi Ha and other small-scale vendors, we also entered the seafood market in Cua Lo coastal town. Ms. Ha's stall was very simple, just a bunch of small shrimp, a few kilograms of catfish, and two or three baskets of herring, yet it was always in high demand. Partly because discerning diners knew that, although these fish weren't large or rare, they were genuinely fresh, delicious, and free of preservatives. The fish grilling area was also a highlight of the market. Fresh, delicious fish, just brought in from the sea, emitted an intoxicating aroma after only ten to fifteen minutes of grilling over charcoal. Adding a plate of lime and salt, and a few green chilies, transformed it into an unparalleled delicacy. Some people also took the opportunity to buy mackerel as gifts for relatives far away. Dried squid, dried fish, and peeled shrimp were also popular choices. The great thing was that, even though it was only the beginning of the new year, prices were very stable; there was no price gouging or haggling. Alternatively, people in coastal areas may believe that going to the market at the beginning of the year is to bring good luck. Some want to go to the market to meet familiar customers, hoping for a lucky and smooth start to the year.

Visiting the fishing port and seafood market at the beginning of the year brought us many emotions. We shared in the joy of the fishermen's bountiful harvest, were delighted to see their fishing trips successful, and felt the salty taste of the sea, making us love and cherish our homeland's sea and sky even more. The sea truly brought us blessings at the start of spring!

In Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district, a thriving fishing village, the atmosphere was bustling and urgent as people started their spring fishing season. On the 6th day of Tet (Lunar New Year), every household had spacious houses with expensive amenities, but the men had already gone out to sea. The scent of incense still lingered in the villages, but at the fishing docks, boats were already heading out to sea. Meeting Mr. Ngo Tri Dong, the owner of a seafood fishing business and Chairman of the Dien Ngoc Fishery Association, who was preparing to set sail, he said: "My family owns 5 boats, including 4 offshore vessels with a capacity of 350 to 500 horsepower. In 2013, we caught and sold over 700 tons of seafood, creating jobs for 24 workers. After the Year of the Horse Tet, I made my first trip of the year, catching an additional 10 tons of good quality fish.” The commune's Fisheries Association has 400 members, all knowledgeable about fishing grounds and waterways, proficient in using compasses, GPS devices, and fish finders. Their boats are capable of venturing far out to sea to fish at depths of 30 meters or more. Not only do they contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands, but they also earn an average income of 55 to 70 million VND per person per year. Before and after the Lunar New Year of the Horse, two-thirds of the members went out to sea to fish. Each boat caught 4 to 5 tons of large fish.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Ngoc Commune, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Van, boasted: "The boat building facilities, fuel stations, and fishing service businesses earned hundreds of millions of dong last year. Notable examples include Mr. Ngo Duy Trinh from Dong Loc hamlet, who opened a fishmeal processing facility for export, earning over 400 million dong per year; and Tam - Tri - Manh Enterprise, which deals in power machinery, transportation vehicles, and fishing services, earning over 50 billion dong. The commune has 8 boat building facilities, and in 2013, 60 boats of various sizes were built and repaired. Thanks to the transformation of the fishing industry, creating a closed loop from fishing to processing and product consumption, in 2013, the entire commune, with 400 boats, caught and sold over 15,000 tons of seafood, including 4,000 tons for export and 2 million liters of fish sauce, the highest in the district. The average income is 26 million dong per person per year, with a total population of over 14,500 people. The commune has..." 75% of households are rich or well-off. Just four days after Tet, 250 boats set sail to catch seafood. The goal is for the entire commune to catch more than 3,000 tons of seafood in the two months before and after Tet, including 400 tons caught between the 4th and 8th days of Tet.

Not only Dien Ngoc but all nine coastal communes of Dien Chau district held their spring departure ceremonies. Along the 29 km coastline connecting Dien Trung to Dien Hung commune, hundreds of boats and ships set sail. On the docks, the fish and beef stalls in Cho Roc-Trung Thanh-Yen Thanh are bustling with activity. (Photo: Van Truong). Some are weaving nets and selling goods, others are crushing ice and collecting oil. Mr. Thach Dinh Nghia, Chairman of the Dien Bich Fisheries Association, said: "After celebrating Tet, from the 2nd to the 6th day of Tet, hundreds of fishermen from Dien Bich set sail, striving for full boats and heavy nets. Last year, the entire commune had 194 boats and ships that caught 9,000 tons of seafood; in 2014, the entire commune aims to catch 10,000 tons, including 2,500 tons for export!"

During the spring production season of 2014, fishermen in the coastal communes of Dien Chau district are expected to catch 8,000 tons of seafood, raise shrimp on 100 hectares, repair 150 hectares of salt fields, and plant 150,000 casuarina and eucalyptus trees to act as wave barriers. It is known that in 2013, the entire district had 1,366 boats, including 120 offshore vessels. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, they caught, farmed, and sold over 32,000 tons of seafood, including 5,000 tons for export, and produced and processed 7.6 million liters of fish sauce under the Van Phan brand. The value of marine production reached over 540 billion VND.

Text and photos:Ha - Ly