Over recent years, Da Nang’s fishermen have actively been engaged in maintaining their offshore fishing trips to national waters so as to earn their living, and generate great economic value for the sake of the city’s progress. It is noticeable that they have joined force with the city’s border guard forces in safeguarding the country’s sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands.

Fishermen Nguyen Van Hoang being happy with his bumper catches

It is no denying that fishermen have given strong support to the border guard forces in carrying out tasks in managing and ensuring sovereignty security at the Fatherland’s sea and on its islands. That’s reason why brave fishermen are dubbed as “living sovereignty landmarks” at sea.

Over recent days, the Son Tra District-located Tho Quang fishing wharf has seen a bustling trading ambience from 2.00am until 12.00pm daily. Crowded trading at this venue signals a flourishing season for fishermen.

Fishermen Nguyen Van Hoang, 65, from Son Tra District’s Nai Hien Dong Ward, expressed his delight at his bumper catches with a total of 6 tonnes of fish after his recent nearly one-week-long fishing journey.
After deducting trip expenses, Hoang earned 300 million VND from the trip.

The seasoned fisherman said he usually takes 2 or 3 offshore fishing trips to national territorial waters.

“We conduct such trips to earn money and join efforts with other Vietnamese fishing vessels and law enforcement forces at sea to detect whether or not foreign ships illegally operate in the country's territorial waters”, said Hoang.

Another fisherman, Mai Dang Nhieu, 56, from Son Tra District’s An Hai Bac Ward boasts 40 years’ experience in fishing.

He said the district’s offshore fishermen have paid special heed to maintaining mutual support at sea in order to make fishermen feel more secure whilst fishing in Vietnamese waters.

Noticeably, fishermen are given national flags to fly on their boats and were also told about the parallel between exploring aqua products and protecting the sovereignty of national seas and islands.

“Seeing the national flag flying in the wind on the top of my vessel, we feel proud and determine to maintain the sovereignty over the national sea and islands,” he remarked.

Da Nang now has 583 fishing vessels with capacity of over 90 CV, of which 75% are over 400 CV ones. They have served as the constant force in maintaining the linkage between the country’s seas and islands and the mainland.

Local border guards giving encouragement to local fishermen prior to their fishing trips

Through communication systems, twice a day, at 8.00am and 3.00pm, all of the captains of offshore fishing boats report the situation at sea to the border guard about information on anchorage positions, security and order at sea, and the possibility of foreign ships illegally operating in Viet Nam’s territorial waters, and other related issues.

The valuable data are very helpful to the border guard force’s performance in protecting the country’s sovereignty over its sea and islands.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Ngoc Anh from the municipal Border Guard High Command, the fishermen are considered as a main source of information for his agency.

The local border guards have always done their utmost to provide prompt assistance for fishermen during their trips when needed.

“Thanks to the effective coordination with fishermen, the local border guards have a thorough grasp of the developments or incidents at sea, thereby proposing the Party, the State, the national government to release righteous policies to defend the national sovereignty over its sea and islands.

In particular, since its inception in 2011, the Lien Chieu District-located ‘Kim Lien marine cultural residential area’ model, located in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, serves as a place for local community activities, a natural disaster shelter, and a combined military medical station.