Over recent years, despite unfavourable weather conditions, or even China’s unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea, Da Nang fishermen have actively been engaged in maintaining their offshore fishing trips to Vietnamese waters so as to earn their living and safeguard the country’s sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands.

Mr Le Van Thien, 45, a resident of Hai Chau District’s Thuan Phuoc Ward, is the owner of two offshore fishing boats with a combined total of 16 crew members.

All year round, his two ships conduct offshore fishing trips to Viet Nam's national territorial waters. After deducting the expenses of each 12 to15-day trip, his crew members receive between 7 and 12 million VND each.

Under Da Nang government-issued incentives to support fishermen to build their fishing vessels, most recently, fisherman Thien has taken the initiative to access Da Nang government’s preferential-interest-rate loans to build new high-capacity fishing boats in order to raise his incomes, and contribute to affirming Vietnamese maritime sovereignty.

Another fisherman, Dang Van May, 52, a resident of Son Tra District’s An Hai Tay Ward boasts dozens of years’ experience in fishing.

Mr May built his two own 730CV and 750CV-fishing ships in 2013, and bought the other with the capacity of 780CV in 2016 for conducting fishing activities.

The fisherman said each of his fishing boats usually takes 1 or 2 offshore fishing trips to the Hoang Sa waters every month.

“We conduct such trips to earn money and join efforts with other Vietnamese fishing vessels and law enforcement forces at sea to detect foreign ships illegally operate in Viet Nam's territorial waters”, said Mr May.

In recent years, Da Nang has seen a growing number of war veterans and ex-servicemen being active in offshore fishing activities in order to make a living as well as protect and affirm the sovereignty of national seas and islands.

Together with fishermen across Viet Nam, Da Nang fishermen always maintain mutual support at sea in order to make fishermen feel more secure whilst fishing in Vietnamese waters.

Director of Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Phu Ban said each fishing boat is considered as a living monument to affirm Viet Nam’s sovereignty at sea.

By MINH NGOC - Translated by M.D