After completing Phase 1 of the upgrade and expansion of the Tho Quang fishing port at a total investment of VND217.5 billion, Phase 2 is underway with a focus on dredging bottom mud with VND350 billion worth of investment to meet the criteria for a first-class fishing port, improve the environment and synchronize fisheries logistics services. The ongoing upgrade aims to upgrade the Tho Quang fishing port into a major fisheries centre of the Central Viet Nam associated with tourism development.

A new large berth has just been completed and put into use, allowing many fishing vessels to dock at the same time, conveniently loading and unloading seafood and receiving food, drinking water and fisheries logistics. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Upgrading the fishing port and renovating seafood wholesale market

Head of Tho Quang Dry Lock and Fishing Port Management Board Nguyen Lai excitedly said that after completing Phase 1 of the project to upgrade and expand the Tho Quang fishing port, loading and unloading activities and providing logistics services will be completed. Fishery at the Tho Quang fishing port needs to take place more smoothly, quickly and safely than before.

Accordingly, a new berth was built with a length of 150m and a width of 9.5m and a roof covering the entire venue, ensuring that many fishing vessels can directly dock at the same time to load and unload seafood and receive fuel, food provisions.

In parallel with upgrading the fishing port, focus is also placed on renovating the Tho Quang seafood wholesale market, with the upgrade of the new wastewater treatment station, internal roads and the rainwater collection and drainage system.

These facilities once completed, will help improve capacity and efficiency of the fishing port and market activities as well as enhance infrastructure and environment, not only aiming at becoming the major fisheries centre of the Central region, but also contributing to attracting and serving tourists coming to Da Nang.

Director of the Da Nang Agricultural and Rural Development Project Management Board Vo Tien Dung said that Phase 2 of the Tho Quang fishing port upgrade and expansion project started in January 2024 and it is expected to be completed in mid-2025 with a large construction volume.

The dredged material in the Tho Quang fishing port was taken out by barge and sunk at the prescribed location. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Environmental improvement

The Tho Quang fishing port area is no longer a hot spot for environmental pollution like it was 15 years ago and it has been recognised by the authorities as the environmental spot being gradually improved over the past 10 years. The Da Nang Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board is directing contractors to take advantage of favourable weather to dredge bottom mud for environmental improvement.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board Le Minh Tuan informed: “According to the plan, around the fourth quarter of 2024, dredging at the Tho Quang fishing wharf will be completed. The contractor is very determined to speed up the progress of dredging.

As reported, recently, the water and air environment at the Tho Quang fishing port has significantly improved. In particular, many fishermen, small traders, and labourers operating at the fishing port have raised their awareness of environmental protection.

However, the implementation of environmental sanitation management solutions at the fishing port currently faces many difficulties. Therefore, the Da Nang People's Committee and relevant local agencies should propose to national ministries to develop and regulate detailed management content on environmental sanitation.

It is also necessary to regulate and bind the responsibilities of the concerned parties to have synchronization and joint consensus on environmental protection. At the same time, the municipal administration needs to continue to support funding for bidding activities for environmental cleanups of water surface areas and lock embankments, as well as direct relevant departments to inspect and strictly handle violations of the environmental protection rule.

It is a must-do to make plans for transforming industries such as ship building and repair, fishmeal business out of the fishing port to partly reduce environmental pollution, gradually forming a tourism site in Da Nang in the time ahead.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by  A.THU