Fishermen in Nghe An prepare for long fishing trips at sea at the beginning of the new year.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), many fishermen in Nghe An, owners of large fishing vessels, were busy preparing fishing gear and necessities for their first fishing trip of the new year. In addition, some fishermen who fish near the shore had already earned millions of dong from their first fishing trip of the year.
Ready for the first sea voyage of the new year.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, many fishermen in Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district were busy preparing fishing gear, ice, and essential supplies for their first fishing trip of the year. According to the fishermen, the first fishing trip of the year usually yields a good catch, and prices are high, so many boat owners decide to set sail early and return to shore on the 12th day of the lunar month to celebrate the first full moon of the year.
The owner of the fishing vessel NA 96868TS, Ho Van Luong, from Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town, along with his crew, are urgently transferring fishing gear, ice, food, and performing sea-worshiping rituals before setting sail on the 4th day of Tet (Lunar New Year). Ho Van Luong said that his vessel is large, with 8 crew members, and uses gillnet fishing. He usually catches a lot of tuna on his first trip of the year, so he sets sail early.
Muchfishing boatFishermen from Quynh Phuong ward, who fish for herring near the shore, are also preparing everything necessary on their boats to set sail on the evening of the 3rd day of Tet and will return to shore tomorrow morning.
Hoang Mai town has nearly 1,000 fishing boats in Quynh Lap commune and Quynh Phuong ward. The successful fishing trips at the end of the year provide motivation for fishermen to continue fishing and venturing further out to sea in the new year.
Fishermen in Dien Chau stay out at sea on the night of the second day of Tet.
Arriving at Lach Van Fishing Port (Dien Chau) on the morning of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), we saw several fishermen moving their fishing boats around the harbor entrance. Some boats had already docked after a night of fishing. The fishermen said that the weather had been favorable in the first days of the new year, so some fishermen in Dien Chau had earned millions of dong.
Mr. Thai Ba Phuong, a fisherman from Dong Loc hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune, said that his boat went out to sea on the night of the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year) and returned to Lach Van fishing port on the morning of the third day of Tet. Although the trip was short, his boat caught a considerable amount of shrimp, squid, and crabs, which he sold to traders, earning over 7 million VND. After deducting all expenses, he made a profit of 4 million VND.
"The first fishing trip of the year usually yields a high catch, but the selling price is lower than at the end of the year because the rural markets haven't opened yet, so traders are buying less. However, that level of income is still quite good," Mr. Phuong shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, aseafood tradersAccording to the report: On the morning of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), four fishing boats returned to the port. We purchased all the seafood, but the prices were not as high as during the year-end period leading up to Tet, because the demand for seafood today is not yet high. Therefore, small shrimp, used for processing into peeled shrimp, are priced at 70,000 VND/kg, squid at 100,000 VND/kg, and mantis shrimp at 90,000 VND/kg…
Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Ngoc commune, said: "Normally, people only officially go out to sea on the 6th day of the first lunar month, but some fishermen have already set sail for their first trip of the year on the night of the 2nd day of Tet."
"The reason fishermen went out to sea early this year is because of favorable weather. On the third day of Tet, four fishing boats returned, and although they caught little or much seafood, the fishermen believe that a safe and successful first fishing trip of the year brings good luck for the whole year," said Mr. Nguyen Van Dung.
Nghe An province has over 3,400 fishing vessels operating at sea. After a warm Tet holiday spent with family, the fishermen are enthusiastically preparing for their first fishing trip of the year, hoping for a smooth and successful catch, creating momentum for a successful year ahead.
