Over the past two weeks, hundreds of fishermen in coastal communes of Quang Ngai have been “hitting the jackpot” with baby lobsters. Many households catch up to hundreds of lobsters each night, earning about 30 million VND.

Fishermen in Tinh Ky commune, Quang Ngai city have a bumper harvest of baby lobsters. Photo: Tri Tin.

At dawn, at Tinh Ky port (Quang Ngai city), hundreds of fishermen brought their motorboats to the dock to sell baby lobsters to traders transporting them to Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces to supply to hatcheries.

Mr. Doan Van Hanh (living in An Vinh village, Tinh Ky commune) was excited, local fishermen have never caught as many baby lobsters as in the past few days. According to current market prices, each baby lobster sold to traders costs an average of 300,000 VND. "My family is lucky to have a big win in a row, every night we catch 80 to 100 lobsters and bring them back to the wharf to sell right at the wharf, earning more than 30 million VND," said Mr. Hanh.

According to Mr. Hanh, to catch baby lobsters, fishermen have to stay up all night, starting at 4pm and only bringing their boats back to shore at 5am the next morning. This season, lobsters return to the rocky reefs near the shore to spawn. Once the area where this species hides is determined, they will cast nets and turn on lights to lure them. Depending on the amount of nets each fishing family has, the number of times they pull up to catch baby lobsters at night increases. The fishing season for this aquatic species lasts from now until after Tet.

Traders buy baby shrimp right at Tinh Ky wharf for 300,000 VND each. Photo: Tri Tin.

Mr. Doan Hoat (living in Tinh Ky commune) added that in just the past week, a family "hit the jackpot" with baby lobsters and earned more than 100 million VND. "My family also had many nights of big wins, one night catching more than 100 lobsters and selling them for more than 30 million VND. The upcoming Lunar New Year will certainly be more prosperous and warmer than many years ago," Mr. Hoat said excitedly.

According to traders, because artificial lobster breeding in the country is still facing many difficulties, most farm owners in the Central region have an increasing demand for purchasing wild baby lobsters for breeding. After about 8 months of breeding, farm owners sell adult lobsters to restaurants or export for 1.5 to 2 million VND per kilogram.

Speaking to VnExpress, Mr. Tran Dinh Tien, Chairman of Tinh Ky Commune People's Committee, confirmed that in recent days, more than 350 local fishermen have had high incomes from catching baby lobsters in the coastal waters. Many households catch more than 100 lobsters each night. "In the past two weeks, fishermen here have had a total income of at least 3 billion VND from catching this valuable aquatic species," said Mr. Tien.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Chau Commune, Binh Son District, also said that in recent days, more than 200 local fishermen have continuously had a "bumper harvest" of baby lobsters. On average, each household catches about 40 lobsters each night, with some households catching nearly a hundred.

According to VNE