As part of the ‘Together with fishermen to light up lights at sea’ programme 2024, 200 gifts, totalling over VND1 billion, were donated to fishermen in Da Nang on Saturday.

Former Politburo member, former Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (6th, left) and Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (7th, left) giving gifts to fishermen. Photo: VAN HOANG

In attendance at the donation ceremony were former Politburo member and former Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh who is Honourary Chairman of the programme, and Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong.

The programme has been organised since the beginning of 2023, expected to take place in 28 coastal provinces and cities across the country with a total implementation budget of more than VND30 billion. Its purpose is to support, encourage and accompany fishermen; as well as stand side by side with the national and local governments to seek solutions to remove the "yellow card" for Viet Nam's seafood industry.

In his remarks at the programme, Vice Chairman Tran Chi Cuong said that this was a practical social charity activity with political significance, contributing to improving propaganda effectiveness and helping the city's fishermen feel secure as conducting offshore fishing activities combined with the task of strengthening national defence and security, protecting the national sovereignty over islands and seas, and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This, thereby, helped the city spread its goal of developing the marine economy associated with protecting environment and the sovereignty of the homeland's islands and islands.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong speaking at the programme

To improve the effectiveness of supporting fishermen to reach out to sea and the whole country to remove a “yellow card” warning from the European Commission (EC), the city will lay an emphasis on carrying out its fisheries development strategy to 2030 with vision until 2045, and its plan to prevent and combat IUU fishing for the 2023-2025 period, he said.

The city leader added that importance will be attached to well implementing support for fishery development, as well as developing models of association and joint venture, linking all stages in the production process from exploitation, to preservation, processing and consumption of products in the direction of improving the value of the product and profits for fishermen.

Former Politburo member, former Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (5th, right) awarding scholarships to children of fishermen who strive to overcome difficulties and study well. Photo: VAN HOANG

During the programme, the organisers awarded 200 gifts to fishermen in Da Nang valued at over VND5million each. Each gift consisted of batteries, light bulbs, a medicine kits and handbooks "Things you need to know about seafood fishing", a specialised rope roll and a voucher of VND1 million.

Also, 25 scholarships, each worth more than VND2 million, were granted to children of fishermen who overcame difficulties and studied well.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG, V.DUNG