Nghe An seafood output increases rapidly as oil prices drop sharply

Fishermen transport seafood when fishing boats return to Lach Quen fishing port (Quynh Luu). Photo: Xuan Hoang

After record oil prices in the first months of the year, by the end of July,oil priceThe sharp decline is a favorable condition for fishermen to stay at sea to exploit seafood, and there is no longer a situation where fishing boats stay ashore for long periods of time for fear of losses.

Fisherman Ho Van Lam in Tien Thuy commune, Quynh Luu district happily said that the sharp drop in oil prices from over 31,000 VND/liter to nearly 24,000 VND/liter is a favorable condition forFishermen invest in going offshore to stick to the seaback. If before when oil prices were high, fear of loss kept fishing boats on shore for long periods, now every month fishing 2-3 trips, any trip that catches over 10 tons of seafood is profitable, previously with this output it was a loss.

According to the Lach Quen Fishing Port Management Board, since the sharp drop in oil prices, more fishermen have gone to sea. Therefore, after each full moon, the number of ships returning to port every day is much busier, the catch is higher, and the number of ships making profits is higher than before. However, there are still ships making losses because the output is not much and the value of seafood is not high.

Nghe An's seafood output in August increased compared to July. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Phan Van Hai - Chairman of the Fisheries Association of Quynh Lap Commune (Hoang Mai Town) said that since the sharp drop in oil prices, fishermen in the commune have been regularly going out to sea in coastal areas, with some boats making 4 trips a month, except for those boats that are only docked for special reasons.

"Sea fishing is a traditional occupation of the people of Quynh Lap commune. Currently, the commune maintains over 130 large-capacity boats, using purse seine, drag net, and gill net... with quite high efficiency," said Mr. Phan Van Hai.

According to the Department of Fisheries,seafood productionNghe An's marine catch in August reached nearly 19 thousand tons, equal to 9.81% of the yearly plan, equal to 102.45% over the same period last year. Compared to the seafood output of July, August increased by nearly 1,000 tons. Raising the output of marine seafood exploitation in the first 8 months of this year to nearly 136,000 tons, equal to 74.64% of the yearly plan, equal to 104.23% over the same period last year, with an estimated value of nearly 3 trillion VND.

This August, the number of fishing vessels leaving and arriving at ports increased due to the sharp drop in oil prices. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Nhue - Head of the Department of Exploitation and Development of Aquatic Resources (Department of Fisheries), the reason for the increase in seafood output in August compared to July is that oil prices dropped sharply from the end of July to August, so fishermen actively stayed at sea and fishing grounds were more favorable in the past time.

Seafood exploitation is a profession that requires large investments in means, fishing gear and uses a lot of human resources. Currently, the number of seafood fishing workers inNghe Anover 15 thousand people, so the decrease in oil prices after months of record increases is a favorable condition for people to have jobs and income. However, according to actual surveys from fishing ports, seafood prices have not increased, while oil prices are still high compared to the end of 2021, so although production has increased, ship owners have not earned much profit./.