Economic development associated with protection of sea and island sovereignty

(Baonghean) - With many new policies for the marine fishing industry, the Party Committee of Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau) has had many creative and flexible ways to mobilize people's strength, promote traditional occupations and local strengths to enrich the homeland, becoming a bright spot in the development of the marine economy in Nghe An.

Party member Ngo Tri Dong in Ngoc Van hamlet, Chairman of Dien Ngoc Commune Fisheries Association, is one of the pioneers in building a model of offshore fishing combined with the commune's fishing logistics. Currently, his family has 5 boats, including 4 offshore fishing boats with capacity from 350 to 500 CV, in 2014, caught and sold more than 700 tons of seafood, creating jobs for 24 workers.

Veteran Le Sy Vinh in Dong Loc hamlet is a pioneer in developing the marine economy of Dien Ngoc. Once a ship's assistant, he has now boldly borrowed capital to own two 260 CV ships and is building a new 540 CV ship. Comrade Le Sy Vinh shared: "Party members - fishermen must be the "big waves" playing a pioneering role in leading the masses to preserve the traditional profession of their ancestors, go out to sea, and maintain sovereignty over the sea and islands. When the Party and the Government have new policies, we become the "front waves" bringing those policies to the people. In Party cell meetings, Party members and veterans like us always contribute ideas and share experiences with the people." Party members and veterans like comrade Ngo Tri Dong and Le Sy Vinh always play the role of leaders, have a lot of experience, and pass on their skills to the next generation (Mr. Ngo Tri Huyen, son of Mr. Ngo Tri Dong, is currently the young owner of the largest pair of double trawlers in Nghe An with a capacity of 600 horsepower each).

Promoting the advantage of its geographical location along the coast, in recent years, the Party Committee of Dien Ngoc commune has identified the marine economy as a key industry of the locality. Therefore, the Party Committee of the commune has issued a specialized Resolution on marine economic development to lead and direct the maximum exploitation of the potential and advantages of the sea, combined with ensuring national defense and security. The Party Committee has assigned cadres and party members to be in charge of each specific field. At the same time, it directed the People's Committee of the commune to coordinate with the Farmers' Association to conduct surveys and establish fishing associations and fishing groups to stick to the sea and go offshore.

Receiving fish at Dien Ngoc Fishing Port (Dien Chau).

In addition, the commune has improved 4 traditional fishing cooperatives, established 4 seafood processing associations, invested in building anti-erosion embankments, planted trees along the coast, and built 2 boat mooring points. Organized for fishermen to study and thoroughly understand the International Maritime Law and the Vietnamese Maritime Law so that people can clearly see the benefits of the sea and the responsibility of the people in protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Coordinating with relevant sectors to train the military, improve the skills of crew members, the Commune People's Committee has coordinated with Nha Trang University of Fisheries and Maritime University to organize many classes to grant boat and chief engineer certificates to fishermen. Therefore, Dien Ngoc is the locality with the strongest fishing fleet in the North Central region.

The commune's Fisheries Association has 400 members, knowledgeable about fishing grounds, good at using compasses, locators, fish finders, and hard-working boats that go far offshore to catch fish at depths of 30m or more. Not only do they contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, but they also have an average income of 55 to 70 million VND per person per year. Offshore fishing boats, in addition to bringing in large revenues for the locality, also provide valuable information to help border guards catch dozens of smuggling cases, use mines to catch fish at sea, and protect the peace of the sacred sea of ​​the Fatherland. In particular, Dien Ngoc was selected by the Ministry of National Defense and the Militia Department to build a maritime militia platoon with 28 comrades, stationed on 2 offshore fishing boats with a capacity of 600 CV, to both participate in fishing and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

In order to change the way of doing business, closing the process from fishing to processing and consuming products, the Party Committee of Dien Ngoc commune has issued a resolution on converting the fishing profession from primitive fishing inshore to fishing vessels at a depth of 30m or more. Reorganizing the onshore labor force towards commercial services and seafood processing. In particular, fishing logistics is considered the "backyard" of the fishing industry. Therefore, in order for this profession to develop commensurate with the potential and scale of the fishing profession, the Party Committee of Dien Ngoc focused on building a project to propose the province and district to invest in building fishing infrastructure, helping fishermen confidently stick to the sea. Thanks to that, the fishing logistics system has had significant changes, especially the Lach Van fishing port system invested by the state to create conditions for fishermen's boats to anchor and sell products. Thanks to the conversion of fishing, closed from catching to processing and consuming products, up to now, the whole commune has 400 means of transport, including 58 ships with capacity of 90 CV to 600 CV; 8 seafood purchasing and processing facilities. Seafood catching has created jobs for 1,800 direct fishing workers and 2,700 workers in processing and providing fisheries services, catching over 1,200 tons of seafood of all kinds every year. Average income is 26 million VND per person/year; the percentage of poor households has decreased from 16.7% in 2010 to 5% in 2014. Among them, many poor people thanks to offshore fishing have become typical examples of economic development such as Mr. Ngo Tri Dong in Ngoc Van hamlet, Le Sy Vinh in Dong Lam hamlet, Mr. Ngo Duy Trinh in Dong Loc hamlet, or veteran Nguyen Huu Tho in Ngoc Tan hamlet,...

By building many new offshore ships and reorganizing the labor force, Dien Ngoc commune continues to determine: Developing a comprehensive, focused and key marine economy to soon turn the commune into a strong commune in marine economy associated with ensuring national defense and security. The policy of the Commune Party Committee has created new, positive changes in the awareness of cadres, party members and people of the commune about the position, role and importance of the sea and islands in developing the economy and protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Thanh Le