Fishermen receive 100 million VND in support when exploiting Hoang Sa and Truong Sa waters

Fishermen in Quynh Long commune (Quynh Luu) prepare fishing gear to participate in fishing at Hoang Sa fishing grounds. Photo: Nhu Thuy

According to Decision No. 48/2010/QD-TTg dated July 13, 2010 of the Prime Minister on offshore fishing policy, each fishing vessel with a fishing route in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa waters scanned by satellite positioning system will be supported with cash up to 100 million VND/each fishing trip. In addition, vessels without positioning devices will be equipped with 1 free Icom device.

Along with that, the district encourages coastal communes to establish fishing logistics service fleets to supply fishing gear, fuel, and ice to offshore fishing fleets; and at the same time purchase and transport seafood to the mainland for consumption.

With policies that are beneficial to fishermen, in early 2018, 68 large-capacity vessels of fishermen from Quynh Nghia, Tien Thuy, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Long and Son Hai communes registered to participate in fishing in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds.

Quynh Luu fishermen are instructed by Border Guard officers on how to use maps to exploit the sea in accordance with maritime laws. Photo: Nhu Thuy

Mr. Bui Xuan Truc - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: In 2018, Quynh Luu district continues to implement the policy of supporting fuel money for fishing vessels in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa waters. Each fishing vessel over 400 CV is supported with 100 million VND, vessels from 300 CV to under 400 are supported with 70 million VND/sea trip. The district will equip 1 Icom locator for each registered fishing vessel, this device will be connected to Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station to determine the vehicle's moving coordinates, if the satellite reports the position of the vessel operating in the common fishing area of ​​Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, after docking at the port, the vessel owner will be supported immediately in cash.

Up to now, the whole district of Quynh Luu has more than 1,300 vessels participating in seafood exploitation in the common fishing areas. Of these, 450 vessels have a capacity of 400 CV or more, qualified to go offshore to exploit in large sea areas such as the Gulf of Tonkin, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

In early 2018, Quynh Luu district had many large-capacity fishing vessels registered to fish in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Photo: Nhu Thuy

Fisherman Dao Van Tuyen - owner of fishing boat NA 94668 TS in Quynh Thuan commune (Quynh Luu) shared: "Understanding the policy, my fellow workers encouraged me to register immediately. Because when participating in this program, I am sure that I will never lose money on fuel. Fishermen who go out to sea and catch a lot of fish will have increased income, without having to worry about calculating profits and losses. But the important thing is that when the State has paid attention to lending capital to build large ships and supporting fuel money, in addition to economic exploitation, we determined that going out to sea also contributes to maintaining sovereignty over the sea and islands."

Therefore, many successive Government decrees such as Decree 17, Decree 67 and policies of the central, provincial and district levels have given more strength to fishermen to stay at sea.