Lead-weighted purse seine fishing - a 'golden' profession that earns billions of dong for fishermen in Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - Among the various fishing methods used by fishermen, the purse seine fishing method is considered the "gold standard" among seafood exploitation methods in Nghe An, with the number of vessels participating accounting for about one-third of the total number of boats in Quynh Luu.

Fishing boat NA90570 TS of fisherman Truong Thanh, Quynh Nghia commune They are caught using purse seine nets with lead weights.

Fisherman Tran Loi from Minh Thanh village, Quynh Long commune, is using a purse seine fishing boat with a capacity of over 500 horsepower. He shared: “Since switching to purse seine fishing with lead weights, I've seen higher fishing efficiency compared to the previous squid fishing method. Each fishing trip, lasting no more than 10 days, yields tens of tons of various types of fish. After deducting expenses, each worker earns 9-10 million VND per trip. Fishermen all prefer purse seine fishing because they can catch all kinds of high-value fish.”

The purse seine fishing method is not environmentally destructive. Quynh Long commune currently has 174 boats and vessels, of which 85 are used for purse seine fishing, accounting for half of the total number of boats and vessels in the commune.

Products of the lead-weighted fishing net making craft in Quỳnh Lưu.

Not only does purse seine fishing yield significantly higher economic value compared to other fishing methods, but it also possesses numerous advantages. These include large vessels with powerful engines, typically 200 horsepower or more, modern equipment, and a consistent presence in offshore areas, especially in shared fishing grounds and areas bordering other countries. This fosters a strong sense of maritime sovereignty and control over fishing grounds among the fishermen. Furthermore, the use of purse seine vessels gradually reduces destructive fishing practices that deplete marine resources.

Fisherman Nguyen Van Manh from Phu Lien village shared: "Pixet fishing is considered a non-destructive fishing method because it doesn't use chemicals or explosives, and it doesn't deplete aquatic resources because the large net size allows smaller fish to escape."

This profession also requires advanced techniques, so purse seine vessels apply scientific advancements such as combining traditional light-based fishing methods with the use of fish finders to increase the ability to detect schools of fish before casting the nets, allowing for the prediction of catch and yield.

Currently, Quynh Long commune has the following fishing methods: purse seine fishing with lead weights, squid jigging with 4-tiered nets, 2-tiered nets, and 3-tiered nets. In 2015, the total production of the entire commune reached over 23,500 tons, achieving 154% of the annual plan, with a total value of nearly 352 billion VND. In the first three months of 2016, 3,600 tons were harvested, reaching 12.86% of the plan. Specifically, the purse seine fishing method in Quynh Long commune has created jobs for over 1,000 laborers at sea, providing them with an income of approximately 80-190 million VND per laborer per year, and creating jobs for over 300 women who mend nets, earning 15-30 million VND per person per year.

Net mending in Quynh Long

Mr. Tran Quang Ve, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quynh Long commune, said: “Currently, purse seine fishing in Quynh Long is developing and yielding the best results. Because it catches marine life living in the upper layers of the water, such as mackerel, tuna, scad, squid, etc., purse seine fishing is a form of fishing that is being encouraged. From purse seine fishing, many vessels earn over 500-700 million VND per trip, with each worker earning 30-40 million VND per trip.”

Quynh Luu district currently has 1,264 fishing vessels, including 695 offshore fishing boats with engines over 90 horsepower. To increase the efficiency of fishing, fishermen in Quynh Luu district have continuously invested in and built new boats to venture further offshore. As a result, the annual catch for the entire district reaches 45-50 thousand tons/year, an increase of nearly 10% compared to 2010.

Currently, in localities such as Quynh Nghia, Tien Thuy, and Quynh Long, in addition to using traditional fishing methods such as the four-pole and two-pole trawling, fishermen have mainly focused on switching to purse seine fishing with lead weights.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Quynh Luu district, said: "Through the operation of the model, it has been shown that purse seine fishing with lead weights is more effective and productive than other fishing methods, and the seafood caught from purse seine fishing is very diverse. However, the cost of purse seine fishing is quite high, about 1.3-2.5 billion VND/vessel, not to mention that fishermen also need to master many techniques, so not every vessel has the capacity."

Viet Hung