Da Nang’s marine economic development policy has created favourable conditions for fishing boat owners and solidarity groups to boldly change their career structure towards focusing on offshore fishing, thereby increasing fishing output, as well as investing in modern and sustainable means.

The companionship of authorities and unions helps fishermen feel secure when going fishing at sea. Photo: T.Y

Motivating fishermen to go offshore fishing

The prices of gasoline and oil products continue to increase, making it difficult for fishermen to head out to the sea.

Mr. Nguyen Xau, the leader of the Thang Loi Solidarity Group in Son Tra District’s Tho Quang Ward, said that, previously, the cost for each offshore fishing trip ranged from VND90-100 million, and it now increases to about VND120 million. However, members of the solidarity group confidently conduct offshore fishing trips to the Hoang Sa Archipelago - the traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen.

According to Mr. Xau, the confidence comes from the solidarity group members' activities of helping each other at sea. Any fishing vessel that finds a good fishing area will call its friends to join them in fishing.

The Thang Loi Solidarity Group was born in 2019, and it now has 16 member ships with a capacity of more than 400CV each.

With many years of experience at sea, Mr. Xau affirmed that only offshore fishing brings economic efficiency, helping fishermen quickly get rich. He estimates that each ship with a capacity of more than 700 CV can achieve an average output of 5-10 tonnes of fish after a long trip.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cao Van Minh, Chairman of the Fisheries Union of Nai Hien Dong Ward in Son Tra District, said that since joining the union, the spirit of solidarity at sea among fishermen has increased. Along with that, the city's support for fisheries exploitation policies, crew insurance, ship hull insurance and technological equipment has given more motivation to fishermen to head out to sea.

In addition, to promote the sense of responsibility of union members, Mr. Minh mobilised each fishing boat to contribute VND500,000/year. This amount of money is used to support the repair and construction of new fishing boats, as well as organise worshiping ceremonies according to folk beliefs.

According to information from the Economic Department of Son Tra District, the locality currently has more than 1,200 fishing boats with fisheries output in the first 5 months of the year estimated at more than 12,000 tonnes, equal to 105.64% compared to the same period in 2022.

Mr. Huynh Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the Son Tra District People's Committee, said that, in recent times, Son Tra District has continuously implemented policies to support the upgrading of fishing vessels and support exploitation in the waters of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

From now until the end of the year, the district strives to complete fishing targets, strengthen management of offshore fishing vessels, avoid generating fishing vessels under 12m in length, improve seafood exploitation capacity and transform the structure of ships towards professionalism and modernity.

​Efforts to complete goals

Under a fisheries development strategy to 2030 with vision until 2045, Da Nang aims to transform the structure of the fishing industry towards offshore exploitation, limiting inshore fishing in association with protecting aquatic resources.

With the strategy, the city strives to achieve a growth rate of 3-4%/year in seafood production value by 2030. The total seafood output of the entire city will reach 38,000 tonnes, of which seafood exploitation output will account for 95-97%. The value of seafood export turnover will generate more than US$250 million.

With a vision to 2045, fisheries will become a modern and sustainable economic and trade sector, holding an important position in the structure of the marine economic sector, creating key products with high quality and economic value, meeting market needs, contributing to ensuring national defence and security, and maintaining the national sovereignty over the seas and islands.

Dr. Hoang Hong Hiep, the Acting Director of the Institute of Social Sciences in the Central Region, stressed the need for the city to modernise fishing technology and seafood preservation facilities for offshore fishing fleets in order to promote the efficiency of offshore fishing activities. At the same time, heed should be on accelerating the development of fisheries logistics, standardising infrastructure at the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf, ensuring control of seafood origin, and meeting seafood export market requirements.

Reporting by TIEU YEN – Translating by M.DUNG