Fishermen in Nghe An province strike it rich with green crabs after Typhoon No. 10.

Fishermen catch a lot of valuable seafood.

At noon on October 4th, the Quỳnh Phương fishing port became even busier as ships docked one after another after 2-3 days at sea, carrying holds full of seafood: mackerel, tuna, herring, and especially blue crabs - a high-value seafood species that is in high demand in the market.

Fisherman Nguyen Phuc Hanh, owner of fishing boat NA 70421 TS, residing in Quyet Tien block, Quynh Mai ward, excitedly said: “Based on many years of experience at sea, trips after storms usually yield a bountiful catch. As soon as we received the order to resume fishing, we rushed out to sea. This trip, my boat had 5 crew members, fishing near the shore in the Gulf of Tonkin. After only two days, we brought in over 4 tons of large, fresh, and delicious mackerel. The price of fish is currently high at 40,000 VND/kg, totaling over 150 million VND. Each crew member was paid about 5 million VND, a considerable income in just two days at sea.”

While speaking, Mr. Hanh busily helped his crew transfer fish from the hold to shore, selling them immediately to traders while they were still fresh. According to him, at this time, the supply of seafood is scarce because many boats have just finished sheltering from the storm before heading out to sea, so fresh fish is consumed quickly and prices remain high. "We will refuel, resupply with ice, and replenish essential supplies to go out to sea again this afternoon," he said.

Not only did many boats catch a large quantity of fish, but they also struck it rich with blue crabs, a seafood considered a "bounty from the sea" after the storm. Hoang Van Minh, the owner of the TH 92779 TS boat from Thanh Hoa province, who docked at Quynh Phuong port, said that after only two days of fishing near shore, his boat had caught 3 tons of blue crabs, with a purchase price at the port ranging from 250,000 to 350,000 VND per kilogram.

According to seafood trader Mach Quang Lam, who specializes in buying seafood at Quynh Phuong port: “Since yesterday, many boats have docked carrying large quantities of seafood, especially green crabs. Each boat has brought in 2-3 tons of crabs, and the high prices have made everyone very happy. I buy an average of 5 tons per day to supply to dealers and restaurants inside and outside the province. The high price of crabs is due to scarcity after the storm, but they are still selling well because they are fresh, delicious, and high-quality.”

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"We had a very successful trip, earning over 500 million VND. All three boats in the fleet had a good catch, and everyone was thrilled. Based on experience, after a storm, the sea calms down, and crabs usually surface, making it easy to cast seine nets and hit the schools. Fishing near the shore is less expensive, the fish and shrimp are fresh and delicious, easy to sell, and fetch high prices."

Fisherman Hoang Van Minh

Fishermen overcome difficulties and venture out to sea to maintain their livelihoods.

The bustling atmosphere of heading out to sea after the storm is also spreading along the coast of the province. In recent days, in coastal communes such as Dien Chau, Hai Chau, Trung Loc, Cua Lo… hundreds of fishing boats have simultaneously set sail, marking the beginning of a new fishing season.

Nguyen Van Hong, a fisherman from Chien Thang hamlet, Dien Chau commune, shared: “After the storm subsides and the sea calms, we seize the opportunity. Every day the boats are docked means a day of lost income, so everyone is trying their best. We just finished repairing our fishing gear, checking the machinery, refueling, and stocking up on ice, and now we're off to sea. Going out to sea early allows us to catch fish and protect our fishing grounds.”

At the fishing port in Dien Chau commune, red and blue-painted boats bob gently on the waves, ready for a new fishing trip. Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Chairman of the Dien Chau Commune People's Committee, said: “During the recent storm, more than 300 boats in the commune sought safe shelter. After the storm, the authorities coordinated with border guards to assist fishermen in returning to sea, prioritizing electricity supply to the fishing port, and providing ice and fuel. For the past two days, many boats have docked, bringing with them valuable seafood.”

For fishermen, successful fishing trips not only bring economic joy but also provide motivation to continue fishing and venturing further out to sea. Besides generating significant income for fishermen, these "bumper" fishing trips after storms also help restart the seafood production and processing chain after periods of temporary suspension due to the weather.

After days of temporary shutdown due to power outages caused by the storm, cold storage facilities in many coastal areas of Nghe An province have now returned to their normal operations. Fishing boats are docking one after another, bringing with them many valuable seafood items such as mackerel, squid, shrimp, and crabs. Traders are busy purchasing, while workers at drying facilities and cold storage warehouses are working diligently to sort and transport the seafood.

Many traders say that thanks to these successful fishing trips, the seafood market in the province is gradually stabilizing again after many days of disruption due to the storm. Fresh seafood is being transported to cold storage facilities, wholesale markets, and large restaurants inside and outside the province.

“After the storm, the fishermen are both repairing the damage and quickly heading out to sea to avoid missing schools of fish and crabs. Each successful fishing trip is a joy not only for the fishermen but also for traders, processing facilities, and the fishermen's families,” Mach Quang Lam confided.

Despite forecasts indicating that Typhoon No. 11 is rapidly approaching the East Sea, with strong winds of force 8-10, near the storm's center force 11-13, gusts up to force 16; sea waves 4-6m high, 6-8m near the storm's center, and extremely rough seas, fishermen will have to stop fishing to prepare. Nevertheless, local fishermen remain optimistic and adapt flexibly to the weather.

"When the sea is rough, we rest; when the storm passes, we head back out to sea. After a storm, we usually catch a lot of valuable fish and squid," many fishermen shared, their eyes shining with hope for successful voyages ahead.