Unlike previous years, Da Nang is experiencing a shortage of fresh seafood in the days leading up to the Tet Festival.

One of the main reasons is that the number of bumper catches declined last year.  Captains of many local fishing vessels said that 2013 was a very difficult year for local fishermen, with many unprofitable offshore fishing trips.  As in previous years, local fishing boats used Seine and drag nets to catch the fish.  Last year’s sea catch output, however, was only two-thirds of earlier years’ figures, and some fishermen even suffered losses.

Tho Quang fishing wharf full of fishing boats

The shortage of seafood has also been attributed to fewer offshore fishing trips as local fishermen are losing interest because of the low income.  A large number of fishing boats are therefore currently tied up at the Tho Quang fishing wharf.

In addition, some local fishermen will not make year-end offshore fishing trips because of the hike in input costs and the decrease in output prices of some types of seafood.  As a result, the price of seafood is likely to rise sharply at Tet.