Khanh Hoa province’s fishermen cling on the sea during the pandemic

Fishermen enthusiastically push off to cling to the sea

In the last days of October, at Hon Ro fishing port and South Central seafood market, in Phuoc Dong commune, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, fishermen are enthusiastically preparing materials to return to sea after many days of social distancing.

Mr. Tran Duc Bao, the ship's owner who is also the captain of the fishing boat KH 96634 TS' captain, in Vinh Phuoc ward, Nha Trang city, said that after nearly four months of suspending operations due to the Covid-19 epidemic, now his ship has just returned to the sea.

For the fishing trip to last about 20 days to Truong Sa fishing grounds, the house of DK 1 and Mr. Bao's ship loaded 5,000 liters of oil, 700 stones, and many other necessities, with a total cost of about VND 200 million. This cost does not include the expenses incurred to take members from other countries into the province to accompany Mr. Bao.

"After social distancing, the cost of beach trips has increased. For example, oil prices increased rapidly compared to before. In addition, finding other people to go to the sea with is also very difficult. My ship needs 12 members, so it's not enough just looking for them in the province.

Therefore, I had to rent a car with an expensive cost to take other members to the province. Not only that, for the ship to push off, I must ensure that all procedures, papers, and Covid-19 testing are carried out", said the fisherman Bao.

In the past few days, to prepare for this trip, he worked very hard. However, the members of the ship were all very enthusiastic.

The ship KH 91791 TS, of fisherman Ho Van Quyen, in Vinh Phuoc ward, is also refueling 6,000 liters of oil and 800 stones to prepare to catch striped tuna.

Mr. Quyen said that the epidemic in the area was under control, so the shipowners were very excited. However, after nearly four months of the ship lying on the shore, it is difficult for the fishermen. He hoped that this time, the ships would have many advantages and catch a lot of seafood to serve domestic consumption and export.

Many boats catch a lot of tuna

While many ships were about to push off, other vessels in Khanh Hoa had returned to the dock.

Most vessels are profitable. For example, the ship KH 94177 TS, in Vinh Phuoc, owned by fisherman Van Duc Tuan, returned 10 tonnes of striped tuna after 20 days on the sea.

Fisherman Tuan said that this time is the season of catching striped tuna. The fishing boats all caught about 10 tonnes.

Currently, the price of striped tuna sold at the port is about VND 19,000 per kilogram, while a few years ago it was more than VND 20,000 per kilogram. The prices at the market are only VND 25-40 thousand per kilogram. Meanwhile, the costs for fishing boats have increased, especially the oil price, so the profits are not high.

"The last time, my ship caught and sold about 4 tonnes of tuna at the market. The rest of the tuna was sold at the port. Total revenue reached VND 250 million. After deducting the cost, I made a profit of VND 150 million", said fisherman Tuan.

Although it is not the official season for tuna fishing vessels, many fishermen, after returning from the sea trip, also caught 1.2-1.5 tonnes.

The ship KH 93999 TS of fisherman Do Van Thai, in Vinh Phuoc ward, caught 80 tuna with nearly 3 tonnes.

Thai fishermen said that each boat catches an average of 40-70 ocean tuna. Fish prices increased about 20% compared to the same time last year. Specifically, the big-sized tuna price is VND 125,000, and the small-sized tuna price is nearly VND 100,000 VND per kilogram.

"After deducting expenses, I made a profit of more than VND 200 million," the Thai fisherman happily shared.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Head of Hon Ro Fishing Port Management Board, said that from September 15, when the fishing port returned to work, on average, there were 15-20 fishing vessels every day.

On this trip, the tuna fishing vessels returned to the port with an output of 1.2-1.5 tonnes. Besides, thanks to the high selling price, the ship owners have a good profit.

According to Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, in the first nine months of 2021, the province's total seafood production reached more than 92,724 tonnes, down 0.29% over the same period last year. In which, catches of aquatic products were 82,068.2 tonnes, down 0.18% over the same period the previous year, and aquaculture production was 10,656.5 tonnes, down 1.16%.