Nghe An fishermen spend billions to upgrade super bright lights to attract fish

Quynh Luu fishermen invest from hundreds of millions to billions of dong to install light bulbs on their boats. Photo: Hong Dien

Currently, the fleet of boats in Quynh Luu district is increasingly developing in the direction of modernization. Along with purchasing electronic equipment, fishermen invest from hundreds of millions to billions of VND to install high-capacity light bulbs on their boats.

Mr. Ha Duc Ngoc in Tien My village, Tien Thuy commune said: Light bulbs are very important in attracting fish, so in the past 2 years he has fixed 250 super bright light bulbs, Led lights with a total capacity of 250,000w on both sides and the stern of his boat, an increase of 150 bulbs compared to before. With an investment cost of 2 million VND/super bright light bulb and 4.3 million VND/Led light bulb.

With strong, concentrated light intensity combined with techniques and experience in exploitation, Mr. Ngoc and his crew have many advantages in fishing. Thanks to that, his seafood catch reaches 3 - 5 tons of hairtail fish and squid for export, earning from 300 - 400 million VND. Compared to before, it has increased from 1 - 2 tons/trip.

On average, each boat has 200 - 300 super bright light bulbs to create a large light to attract fish. Photo: Hong Dien

For Mr. Ho Quoc Viet's boat in Tien Thuy commune, built in 2013, with a capacity of 800 CV, worth more than 4 billion VND, but at that time, his boat was only equipped with 40 light bulbs. Realizing that the light factor is very important in fishing, he recently invested more than 580 million VND to install 70 LED bulbs and 140 super bright bulbs. At the same time, he used 2 generators running on oil to catch anchovies, hairtail fish, and squid.

Mr. Viet shared: At night, fish often move in circles around light sources. The better the light, the more fish will be attracted to his boat. At this time, applying technology in seafood exploitation, his boat can fish smoothly and effectively.

The entire Quynh Luu district has nearly 1,200 vessels, with an average capacity of 260 CV/ship. Previously, ships only had 30 - 50 super bright light bulbs, but now there are ships with up to 500 light bulbs, an average of 200 - 300 bulbs per ship. Notably, in the past 3 years, Quynh Luu district has had 30 large capacity ships, mainly in Tien Thuy and Quynh Nghia communes, boldly investing in installing 50 - 100 LED bulbs.

Thanks to the enhanced lighting system, Quynh Luu fishermen are catching seafood more effectively. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Bui Xuan Truc - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: The specialty of Quynh Luu is seafood exploitation combined with light, so ships often install many light bulbs, especially LED bulbs. A ship, if fully installed with a LED bulb system, will cost 1 billion VND.

Currently, in the district, there are some models implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, ships are supported to install 50% of the bulb value but also limited to 50 - 100 bulbs. The district is proposing to the province in the policy of supporting the application of high technology in seafood exploitation, adding a policy of installing LED bulbs, to minimize environmental impact and improve labor productivity for people.