Linking together to cling to the sea.

(Baonghean)For generations, fishermen in Nghi Thuy (Cua Lo) have lived off the sea, which provides them with fish and shrimp, ensuring their well-being and prosperity. To protect and exploit these resources, the fishermen have formed cooperative groups, supporting each other in their fishing activities at sea. They are also increasingly acquiring larger, more powerful vessels to venture further offshore, contributing to the protection of maritime sovereignty.

Evening meal on the boat of fishermen in Nghi Thuy (Cua Lo).

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh (Block 5, Nghi Thuy Ward), 64 years old, is still passionate about the seafaring profession; a day without going to sea fills him with longing. For Mr. Thanh, going to sea is not just about making a living, but also about satisfying his yearning for the ocean. He is the leader of a cooperative group of 10 fishing boats operating offshore. In 2013, Mr. Le Hong Minh's boat encountered a problem when its propeller broke, causing it to sink due to excessive water ingress. Mr. Minh immediately contacted his fellow members of the cooperative group, and Mr. Thanh and the other members quickly approached to salvage the boat and bring the crew safely ashore. Despite his advanced age, his spirit and determination to stay at sea serve as an inspiration for his descendants. Mr. Thanh stated that he will only stop going to sea when his hands can no longer pull the nets.

Mr. Vo Van Phuc (Block 7, Nghi Thuy Ward), 52 years old, has spent nearly 40 years at sea. He joined his father on fishing boats before finishing junior high school, progressing from nearshore fishing to venturing far out to sea. From rudimentary to modern fishing methods, he has completely mastered the open ocean. Coming from a family of fishermen, combined with nearly 40 years of experience, Mr. Phuc has confidently invested in several large vessels for offshore fishing. Currently, his family owns four offshore fishing vessels, each with a capacity of 444 horsepower, providing employment for 30 workers directly involved in fishing at sea and approximately 20 onshore support workers specializing in loading and unloading fish. Each fishing trip typically lasts from 2 to 7 days, with lucky trips involving large schools of fish allowing them to return to shore sooner. The seafaring profession constantly involves being at sea, facing many potential dangers, but Mr. Phuc, like many other fishermen in Nghi Thuy Ward, remains undaunted by each voyage. On days when the sea is rough and we have to stay home from fishing, it feels like fire is burning inside me because I miss the sea so intensely.

For many years, Mr. Phuc's fishing group, consisting of 7-8 pairs of boats, has regularly provided mutual support and information. When one boat unfortunately encounters a problem, all the boats gather to help, minimizing damage. Recently, Mr. Trinh Van Quang's fishing boat from Block 9, while fishing offshore, encountered large waves, causing water to flood in and sink the boat. Mr. Quang contacted other boats in the group for help. Due to being submerged in water, many pieces of equipment on the boat were damaged and needed replacement or repair, resulting in losses of nearly 200 million VND. Sharing Mr. Quang's difficulties, the fishermen in the cooperative and other groups jointly contributed 30 million VND to help his family repair the fishing boat. Among them, Mr. Vo Van Phuc contributed the most, with 6 million VND.

Nghi Thuy Ward has over 800 workers engaged in marine exploitation, with 167 fishing vessels ranging in capacity from 24CV to 450CV, including 40 vessels with 350CV to 450CV. Mr. Nguyen Van Hue, Chairman of the Nghi Thuy Ward Farmers' Association, stated: Each farmers' association branch establishes a cooperative group consisting of fishing vessels operating in offshore, inshore, and nearshore areas. They maintain regular contact to support each other in fishing, in times of hardship, or in fishing grounds. For example, if one vessel discovers fish in a fishing area, it immediately contacts other vessels in the cooperative group to join in the fishing. On calm days when a large catch is obtained, the inshore fishing vessels act as intermediaries, transporting seafood ashore for sale and supplying materials to help offshore vessels stay at sea for longer periods, thus increasing fishing efficiency.

The fishermen of Nghi Thuy are hardworking and have been practicing fishing for a living since ancient times. Throughout their lives, they have learned, innovated, and developed modern fishing methods, dynamically shifting from inshore to offshore fishing to improve production efficiency and protect the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands. In 2010, the entire ward had only 20 offshore fishing vessels; by 2014, this number had increased to 40, with capacities ranging from 350CV to 450CV. Previously, fishermen manually pulled nets, which was laborious and inefficient. Now, the innovative use of winches, combined with GPS, fish finders, and walkie-talkies, facilitates convenient communication and increases catch yields year after year. In 2012, the total catch of the ward was valued at 5.7 billion VND. In 2013, the total catch exceeded 6 billion VND. In 2014, the projected harvest of various seafood products was over 7,000 tons.

For fishermen, the sea is their life; therefore, despite facing difficulties or dangers far out at sea, generations of fishermen continue to head out to sea. The fishing fleets of Nghi Thuy fishermen in particular, and Nghe An fishermen in general, have created a strong shield contributing to the protection of the territorial waters of our beloved homeland.

Quynh Lan