Over these last few days of the lunar year, Da Nang’s Tho Quang fishing wharf has been bustling and busy as the many fishing boats make preparations for their last offshore fishing trips of the year.

The crew of fishing boat QNg 97979 from Quang Ngai Province has been busy loading 3,750 kilos of ice onto their boat.  Its captain, Mr Tran Quang Trung, explained that he would make a 10-day trip to the Hoang Sa fishing grounds, but that his journey will start a few days later than scheduled due to the recent bad weather and rough seas.

Fishermen preparing for their offshore trips

Fishing boat QNg 98014, also from Quang Ngai, has been prepared with over 8,750 kilos of ice and more than 3 tons of fuel, food, and fresh water ready for its 13-day trip into the Hoang Sa waters. 

Captain Tran Duc remarked that the year-end fishing trip is the most eagerly awaited journey of the year.  He said that he had already made 10 offshore fishing trips during the past year, and his crew members had enjoyed a stable income.  However, they are hoping for a year-end bumper catch to make a good profit for their Tet Festival celebrations.

Forty-two-year-old fisherman Do Quoc Tien said that last year the fishing activities of local fishermen faced many difficulties due to bad weather and the illegal operation of foreign fishing boats in Viet Nam’s waters.  However, he is strongly determined to carry on fishing in the Hoang Sa waters in order to exploit the fisheries and protect the nation's territorial waters.

The Chief of Staff of the municipal Border Guard High Command, Col Le Tien Hung, said that the border guards keep around the clock contact with the local fishermen operating at sea in order to provide them with help in times of need and encouragement to confidently continue their fishing activities in Viet Nam’s waters.