Economy

The crab hunting season in Cua Lo is bustling with activity.

Huy Thu • November 30, 2024 07:00

When the boats dock, the buying and selling of crabs becomes bustling again at the Nghi Tan ward dock (Cua Lo town). This year, crabs are fetching good prices and selling well, bringing a considerable income to the fishermen.

After a night at sea, every day at noon, the crab-hunting boats in Cua Lo rush to dock at the pier on the Cam River in Nghi Tan ward to unload and sell their crabs. Photo: Huy Thu

The locals here mainly hunt crabs using nets and boats. Whenever a boat docks, many local women wait to board and help remove the crabs from the water. This is a seasonal service that thrives on the crab season in Cua Lo. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_3(1).jpg — According to locals, the crab-hunting boats in Nghi Tan ward mainly belong to residents of Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town), with a few from Cua Lo and Thanh Hoa provinces. The crab-hunting season runs year-round, but is best from September to December. Every day from 6 PM to 10 PM, the crab-hunting boats take turns carrying their nets out to sea. Photo: Huy Thu

Crab fishing nets are typically made from 70-80 nets joined together to form a long line 8-10 km long and about 3m wide. Depending on whether the fishing location is inshore or offshore, the nets are dropped close to the seabed at a depth of 14-30m. After dropping the nets for 7-10 hours, the boats begin to pull them in and return. Crabs caught in the nets are left in plastic containers until they are untangled at the dock. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_5(1).jpg — Mr. Phan Van Anh (45 years old), residing in Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town, said that his family has been crabbing for many years, but this is the first year they have come to Cua Lo to do the job. According to Mr. Anh, all crabbing boats from Quynh Phuong are given free accommodation at the house of the "boss" who buys crabs at the dock. The number of crabs his family caught this year seems to be less than last year. Photo: Huy Thu

Removing crabs caught in nets requires patience and meticulousness, ensuring that the crabs' legs are not broken and the nets are minimally torn. The process usually takes 3-5 hours. Those who work removing crabs are paid by the hour, approximately 25,000 VND per hour. (Photo: Huy Thư)

Mr. Ho Duc Huyen (41 years old), originally from Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town), said: He has been hunting crabs since he was in junior high school. Previously, he hunted crabs in the waters of Hoang Mai and Sot (Ha Tinh province), but for the past 5 years, he and his wife have been working in Cua Lo. "A boat trip for crabs costs about 300,000 VND per night for fuel, in addition to dock fees. Crab hunting is hit or miss; usually, you only get a few dozen kilograms each night. In a good year, you can get a hundred kilograms of crabs in one night, earning 15-20 million VND." Photo: Huy Thu

bna_8a(1).jpg — Cua Lo beach is home to many types of crabs: three-spotted crabs (moon crabs), flower crabs (red crabs), green crabs, etc., among which the green crab with white spots is the tastiest. After being removed from the nets, the crabs are tied by their legs with nylon or cloth strings to prevent them from moving and to ensure they remain fresh. Photo: Huy Thu

When the boats return to the dock, traders buy up all the crabs they've unloaded. The scene of selecting and buying crabs at Nghi Tan dock is quite bustling during peak hours. Besides crabs, the boats also sell fish and shrimp caught in the nets while hunting for crabs. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_10(1).jpg — A resident of Nghi Tan ward, who went to buy crabs at the Cam River, said: "To buy good crabs, you have to come to the dock early. Because there aren't many crabs, you have to jostle to buy them." (Photo: Huy Thu)

bna_11..jpg — According to local crab fishermen, crabs are fetching good prices and selling fast this year. Grade 1 crabs are being bought at the dock for around 240,000 VND/kg. Lower quality crabs are priced from 100,000 to 180,000 VND/kg... All the crabs caught are sold immediately. Crabs have been and continue to be a significant source of income for many households engaged in crab fishing in Cua Lo. (Photo: Huy Thu)

Crab-hunting boats return to the dock. Video: Huy Thu

Huy Thu