After the Tet holiday break, many fishermen across Da Nang are taking the advantage of the favourable weather conditions to head out to sea in the hope of bumper catches and lucky fishing season in the new lunar year.

Fishermen busy in preparation for their first post-Tet fishing trips

In recent days, hundreds of fishermen whose fishing boats have been anchored at the Tho Quang Fishing Port have been busy rechecking machinery, and preparing for fishing gear and other necessities, to get ready for their first offshore fishing trips of Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022. Such trips are very important for them because this is the lucky start of the new lunar year, so everyone eagerly hopes to return with bumper catches.

Mr. Phung Dinh Tam, the owner of fishing boat QNg 98890 TS from Quang Ngai Province, said he and 12 other crew members were excited and happy at the upcoming offshore fishing trip. The preparation of equipment and food for the trip has been completed and they were now ready to set sail.

Like every year, his first fishing trip of Lunar New Year usually starts on the 10^th day of the 1^st lunar month.

“We have loaded ice and fuel onto the ship. Before the trip, we will do an offering ceremony, wishing for a favourable departure for the year so that the crew on board have more income" said Mr. Tam.

Fishermen unloading fish from their boat's deck

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Tieng, a resident of Son Tra District’s Nai Hien Dong Ward, said that his family currently has 3 large fishing boats with a capacity of over 800CV each.

On February 16 (the 16^th day of the first lunar month), all three fishing vessels will conduct offshore fishing journeys to the Hoang Sa fishing ground. There are 5-8 crew members onboard each ship.

As noted at the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf, all fishing boats which are preparing for their upcoming offshore fishing journeys comply with the installation of journey surveillance devices to prevent from illegal fishing, and protect ships and fishermen in distress at sea.

Mr. Nguyen Lai, Deputy Director of the Authority of the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf, remarked the pandemic prevention and control measures are strictly put in place at the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wholesale Seafood Market.

He added that, since the 4^th day of Tet, bustling trading ambience has been recorded at the Tho Quang Seafood Wholesale Market. According to recent statistics, from January 1 to February 8, a combined total of 1,813 fishing boats berthed bumper-to-bumper at the wharf with nearly 11,000 tons of seafood. Particularly from February 4 to 8, there were 56 fishing ships docked at the wharf with 464 tons of seafood in total.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG