Quynh Lap fishing boat has to sell seafood at another port due to the Covid-19 epidemic

At a time when Quynh Lap commune was experiencing the Covid-19 epidemic, fishermen in the commune had to dock in other localities to sell seafood. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Quynh Lap Commune,Hoang Mai townis the locality with the largest number of large fishing boats in the province, with 145 boats with a capacity of 250 CV or more. Therefore, the seafaring industry has created jobs for a large part of the people here. In addition to fishing labor at sea, there is also a labor force that purchases and processes seafood on the spot.

So, since there was a positive case ofCovid-19 epidemicFrom May 6 to now, Quynh Lap's fishing industry has faced many difficulties. Mr. Phan Van Hai - Chairman of Quynh Lap Commune Fisheries Association said that at the time the professional agency determined that there was a positive case of Covid-19 in the commune, up to 80% of theboatsin the commune are fishing offshore.

To ensure epidemic safety, under the direction of local authorities, fishing vessels at sea, during the epidemic period, are not allowed to return to Quynh Lap fishing port, but must dock at fishing ports in other localities to consume products.

"Most of Quynh Lap's fishing boats during this epidemic period dock at Lach Quen fishing port (Quynh Luu) to export seafood, then refuel, restock... and then go out to sea again," Mr. Phan Van Hai added.

For boats anchored in Quynh Lap commune, they are absolutely not allowed to go out to sea to fish while the Covid-19 epidemic has not ended in the commune. Photo: Xuan Hoang

For the number of boats anchored at Quynh Lap Fishing Port, they are not allowed to go out to sea for now, and fishermen are absolutely not allowed to leave the commune. The return of fishing boats that are fishing also needs to be monitored for disease prevention and control work.

Another difficulty is that frozen seafood products in the commune cannot be consumed. Mr. Le Hoi Hung, owner of the warehouse systemfrozenin Quynh Lap commune, it is estimated that the whole commune still has about 100 tons of frozen seafood that have not been consumed yet. The Covid-19 epidemic occurred in the commune, causing goods to not be sold outside, leading to congestion. Therefore, if the Covid-19 epidemic continues in Quynh Lap commune, it will greatly affect the economy of residents in this coastal area.

"The biggest concern is that there are about 7 tons of fish meal that have just been ground, scheduled to be sold to animal feed processing units on May 7, but due to "no export, no import" to the epidemic area, it is stagnant, with a high risk of spoilage," Mr. Le Hoi Hung worried.

With the local marine economy playing a key role, in addition to the high determination of all levels and sectors in controlling the epidemic, above all, all people here need to strictly implement epidemic prevention solutions, soon control the epidemic to return to normal activities, especially fishing and seafood processing.

Xuan Hoang