Huge income from the fishing industry.

(Baonghean) - In Quynh Luu, people working in the fishing industry earn an average of 80 million VND per year, nearly three times higher than other professions. Some even earn several hundred million VND per month.

Fishermen in Nghe An: 'If we don't go out to sea for a day, we feel restless'

A view of Tien Thuy coastal commune (Quynh Luu district) today. Photo: Viet Hung

Huge income from the fishing industry.

High yields and stable prices have made fishing a lucrative profession for people in coastal areas. Fisherman Nguyen Van Minh from Dai Bac village, Quynh Long commune (Quynh Luu district), with over a decade of experience at sea and a bold investment in building large, powerful boats, currently owns three wooden-hulled vessels with engines ranging from 500 to 700 horsepower, earning 200 to 300 million VND per month.

In addition, in Quynh Long commune, there are many fishermen who have become wealthy from seafaring, earning between 20 and 30 million VND per month, such as Mr. Nguyen Sang in Dai Hai village, Mr. Nguyen Ba Thao in Phu Lien village, and Mr. Nguyen Van Chat...

For fisherman Truong Thanh in Quynh Nghia commune, fishing at sea provides him with an annual income of 200-300 million VND. Mr. Thanh applied for a loan to build a fishing vessel under Decree 67, and after more than a year of using the vessel, he has consistently achieved high yields; on average, each fishing trip brings in 300-400 million VND, with each crew member earning 8-10 million VND per trip.

The development of the fishing industry has led to the strong growth of many related fishing logistics services on shore, such as processing and trade. Although not located right on the coast, Quynh Ngoc commune (Quynh Luu district) has long had a relatively developed fishing industry, with hamlets 12 and 13 (Song Ngoc village) where the people mainly rely on marine resources for their livelihood.

Before mid-2016, Song Ngoc village had as many as 36 boats, providing jobs for about 300 male laborers directly involved in fishing, and at least the same number of women involved in trading fish and seafood products, supporting the fishing industry.

Fishing boats flock to the Lach Quen estuary. Photo: Viet Hung

In Song Ngoc village, the fish sauce making industry is also very developed, bringing a good income to the people. When we visited, the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien - a fish sauce processing household in Song Ngoc - was pouring concrete in front of their house to expand the area for drying fish sauce. Ms. Hien shared: Currently, the family has more than 300 fermentation vats, producing about 24,000 liters of fish sauce each year, but it is still not enough to meet market demand.

With a selling price of 60,000 - 70,000 VND/liter, the family earns a profit of 150 - 200 million VND per year. The family also provides employment for regular workers with a stable income of 5 million VND/person/month and some seasonal workers.

Over the past five years, thanks to fish sauce production, the lives of people in Song Ngoc parish have improved. More than 50% of households in hamlets 12 and 13 are now considered well-off; the poverty rate has decreased to 6% in 2017 (compared to over 30% in 2010). The fish sauce industry also provides regular employment for approximately 100 local workers, with stable incomes ranging from 4.5 to 5 million VND per person per month.

Chart showing the production results of fishing in coastal districts and towns in the first quarter of 2017. Graphics: Nam Phong

The income is significantly higher than other professions.

In An Hoa commune (Quynh Luu district), although only two villages have a fishing industry, with 84 boats and 336 fishermen, the value of seafood catches accounts for 20% of the commune's total economic value.

Mr. Le Xuan Quyet, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Hoa commune, said: "In 2016, the total production value of the commune reached 335 billion VND, with seafood fishing alone accounting for nearly 70 billion VND. Meanwhile, salt production, with about 2,000 workers, only accounted for 10% of the total value. Currently, the average income of the commune is 26 million VND/person/year, but in Tan An village - where people mainly live by fishing - the income reaches over 30 million VND/person/year."

In Quynh Long commune, in 2016, the total production value reached 627.7 billion VND; of which, fishing and aquaculture alone accounted for over half (over 370 billion VND). The marine industry created stable jobs for 1,800 male fishermen and more than 2,500 female workers engaged in net mending and seafood service businesses, with an average income of 37 million VND per person per year for the entire commune...

Thanks to the strong development of the seafood fishing industry, the lives of the people in the communes of Quỳnh Long, Sơn Hải, Tiến Thủy, and Quỳnh Nghĩa are significantly more prosperous than in some other localities in the district.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Binh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District, said: "Seafood fishing and the development of the marine economy are creating the main source of income and are proving more effective than other occupations in coastal localities. In Quynh Luu District, there are approximately over 10,000 people working in seafood fishing, with an average income of 80 million VND/person/year (of which purse seine fishing earns 120 million VND/person/year; trawling and line fishing earn about 60 million VND/person/year); while other occupations only achieve an average of 29 million VND/person/year."

Overall, in Nghe An province today, the exploitation, processing, and supply of seafood are very vibrant. People, from trading in sea fish and mending nets to fishing, are all enthusiastic because the efficient exploitation of marine resources has continuously improved their lives, with many households becoming wealthy. They express their desire for continued government support in investing in large-capacity fishing vessels to further expand their offshore fishing activities.

Reporters' Team