The precarious life of an old fisherman at the Old Ferry Crossing.
(Baonghean.vn) - For generations, the lives of nearly 30 fishing families living along the Lam River at Gia ferry terminal, Da Lam village (Da Son commune, Do Luong district) have depended on fishing on the Lam River. And their livelihood is extremely precarious.
(Baonghean.vn) - For generations, the lives of nearly 30 fishing families living along the Lam River at Gia ferry terminal, Da Lam village (Da Son commune, Do Luong district) have depended on fishing on the Lam River. And their livelihood is extremely precarious.
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| A corner of the fishing village at Gia ferry terminal. |
Along the Già ferry landing during the flood season, the scene becomes quiet, with nearly 30 fishing boats lying idle. Mr. Dang Dinh Trung, from Hamlet 10, had just moored his small boat to the shore, carrying a bunch of fish he had just caught after more than two hours of wading on the river. He said, "People usually fish at night and return to the dock early in the morning to sell their catch. Fish are very scarce this season..."
A few small boats away, Mr. Tran Van Thang (78 years old) and his wife Nguyen Thi Ngoc (72 years old) were having a simple lunch right on their boat. Mr. Thang couldn't remember how many years he had been involved in fishing; since birth, he had lived with his family on boats, and after getting married and having children, the boat served as both their home and their livelihood.
When the government allocated them a plot of land large enough to build a small house, the couple gave the land to their son and decided to live permanently on the boat, only coming ashore a few times a year for family matters. “About 10 years ago, we could earn a million dong a day, but now, even after a whole day out fishing, we only earn 100-200 thousand dong, sometimes just a few tens of thousands. We’re old now and can’t work like before. Some days we don’t earn enough to buy rice, so we have to ask our grandchildren to bring some. We try to hold on until we can’t work anymore before we can go back to live with our children and grandchildren,” Mr. Thang shared.
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| The fishing village of Da Lam is now mostly inhabited by elderly and infirm people who still practice the trade. |
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The meager catch of fish that Mr. Dang Dinh Trung managed to catch throughout the morning. |
The fishing season for the fishermen of Da Lam begins from February to June each year. This is when several species of brackish water fish migrate upstream in large numbers, making fishing easier and fetching higher prices. From July to December each year, fishing slows down due to the scarcity of fish. Around 2 PM, Mr. and Mrs. Chu Van Tu returned home after collecting firewood from the dam in Do Luong. These days, the river water is high, making fishing impossible, so they take advantage of the opportunity to collect firewood. This is a regular side job for the fishermen of Da Lam; dry firewood floating downstream is gathered into piles scattered along the riverbank. According to Mr. Tu, if they are lucky, they can earn several hundred thousand dong from collecting firewood in three days.
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The life of Mr. and Mrs. Tran Van Thang on their fishing boat. |
The fishing community at Gia ferry landing consists of nearly 30 households who make a living from fishing, a traditional occupation passed down through generations. However, due to general difficulties, most people have moved ashore to find other jobs. The remaining group, around 10 or so, are mostly elderly and frail, no longer strong enough to do strenuous work on land, so they cling to fishing. Those who come ashore work as construction laborers, carpenters, and do other jobs to make a living, while their children, after finishing secondary or high school, go south or north to industrial zones to find work.
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Collecting firewood to sell is a secondary occupation for fishermen in the fishing village. |
According to Hoang Huu Dong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Son commune, the use of electric fishing is real, and although the authorities have organized many arrests, it has not stopped. Most of the fishermen have moved ashore to find other jobs to make a living. The Da Lam fishing village now only has elderly and infirm people, and the risks associated with the river life have increased as a result.
Thai Orchid
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