Son Hai ventures out to sea and clings to the ocean.

(Baonghean) - Previously, most of the fishing vessels used by fishermen in the Son Hai - Quynh Luu coastal area were small boats, primarily used for near-shore fishing. This approach not only failed to increase economic value but also depleted marine resources. Therefore, Son Hai fishermen have boldly invested in building new, larger vessels to venture further offshore, exploiting large quantities of valuable seafood while actively contributing to the protection of Vietnam's maritime sovereignty.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Hai (in Hamlet 5) is one of the exemplary families in Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district, in boldly investing in building new, large-capacity fishing vessels to venture further out to sea. With their own capital and loans from various sources, his family has invested billions of dong to build two 420 HP vessels (numbers NA 92777 and NA 93777). Mr. Hai said: “Thanks to the large-capacity vessels, equipped with modern machinery and equipment, and experienced crew members, we often fish in the Gulf of Tonkin and consistently harvest high-value seafood such as spotted fish and squid… Although we are at sea for long periods, we regularly exchange information with the mainland, so we feel very secure staying at sea to harvest seafood.”

Fishermen in Son Hai - Quynh Luu prepare ice to preserve their catch for long sea voyages.

Fishing is a traditional occupation of the people of Son Hai commune. Currently, 1,200 households (comprising 6,500 people) out of 2,700 households (comprising 13,000 people) in the commune are involved in the fishing industry. In recent years, following the policy of investing in offshore fishing, fishermen in Son Hai commune have boldly borrowed capital to invest in building large vessels. In 2013, people in the commune purchased an additional 21 boats and built 14 new large-capacity boats, while also installing 15 satellite positioning communication devices and 5 Icom radios… With this bold investment in the fishing industry, Son Hai has seen rapid growth in the number of fishing vessels.

Mr. Tran Van Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Hai Commune, said: “Son Hai Commune currently has 261 fishing vessels with a total capacity of over 40,000 horsepower. Thanks to investment in large vessels for offshore fishing, the total seafood catch in 2013 reached over 2,730 tons. In the first four months of 2014, the seafood catch was 817 tons, with a value of approximately 50 billion VND. Fisheries are one of the key economic sectors that generate high economic efficiency and provide stable employment for many workers… Implementing the policy of encouraging fishermen to continue investing in the development of large-capacity vessels, gradually replacing old, small-capacity vessels to increase economic value, in just the first four months of 2014, people invested in building 14 new vessels (with a capacity of 400 horsepower or more). Currently, four vessels have been launched and are participating in fishing activities.” "Production. The goal for 2014 is for Son Hai commune to build 20 new large-capacity vessels and achieve a seafood catch of approximately 3,000 tons."

Fishermen in Son Hai, who previously only fished in coastal waters, have now changed their business practices, boldly investing in larger vessels to venture further offshore, staying at sea for extended periods and fishing in distant fishing grounds. This transformation not only helps fishermen harvest large quantities of valuable seafood, rapidly increasing their income and creating jobs for the people in the commune, but also contributes positively to protecting Vietnam's maritime sovereignty. However, to ensure that people feel secure and confident in investing in the fishing industry, relevant levels and sectors need to provide timely support in areas such as loans, vocational training, and assistance with new techniques in fishing and product preservation to enhance the value of seafood.

Text and photos:Hoang Vinh