Da Nang’s traditional fisheries sector is facing many challenges in the current context of rapid urbanisation.

The construction of the Lancaster Nam O Resorttraditional fishing villages might adversely affect the traditional fishing village

In reality, traditional fishing villages have been adversely affected by tourism projects, so off-shore fishing jobs have also gradually disappeared.

More recently, residents in the coastal Nam O Village in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District showed their strong discontent with the construction of the Lancaster Nam O Resort blocking their access to a beach.

The villagers complained about a 2km-long fence erected by the project’s developer obstructing them from approaching the beach.

Due to the fence, the residents are forced to hike quite a distance to the southern end of the fence in order to access this beach.

For the sake of the benefits of the citizens, the city authorities have already asked Trung Thuy Group to remove its fences and barriers around the construction site so that people can access to the beach.

The project’s developer was also asked to adjust its construction plans. Accordingly, new instructions were given on keeping the status quo of historic relic sites here.

Another issue of deep matter encountering fishermen is that the city authorities are encouraging more fishermen to build large deep sea boats, and implementing a strategy to reduce the number of under-20CV fishing vessels and coracles operating in the city’s inshore waters.

Accordingly, the city is targeting to ensure that there will be no more than 200 such boats by 2020, and no coracles will be allowed to operate in the city’s inshore waters onwards.

Although the city’s assistance is being given to crew members of these low-capacity boats and coracles to change their livelihoods, many loyal fishermen feel very sad as their coracles are dismantled. Hence, inshore fishing activities might be on the verge of gradually disappearing.

A resident Huynh Nhung, 61, raised his deep concern over the decreasing number of young fishermen heading out to sea over recent years. 

Hundreds of young men in the coastal villages around the city have given up their off-shore fishing jobs to work as taxi drivers. In addition, another sign that the traditional way of life in the central coast is changing fast.

Now, it is difficult to find young off-shore fishermen in the city. After the coastal rural areas were urbanised, some traditional offshore-fishing families didn’t want their children following the old ways.

Only fishermen, aged over 40, enthusiastically continue their fishing activities in the national territorial waters. 

Despite the hardships and such unexpected dangers they face at sea as continuous natural disasters, pirates and attacks from foreign ships, these loyal, strong-willed fishermen have always showed their sentimental attachment to their life-long careers.

In fact, the money cannot take away what people feel when they see traditional villages disintegrated, and fishermen leaving the sea: pity.

The city authorities are collecting constructive opinions from the general public about a project to preserve the fishing villages of An Tan and An Don in Son Tra District, covering a total area of about 15ha.

The focus will be on developing a master plan for refurbishing traffic infrastructure, naming alleys, ensuring environmental sanitation, and promoting fine arts decorations in the 2 fishing villages.

Such preservation work will help to develop these villages into new local attractions, and enhance the living conditions and livelihoods of the villigers.