The linkage of many fishing boats to form a model of solidarity production groups at sea to support each other to catch seafood brings practical results, helping fishermen in Da Nang feel confident during their long offshore trips.

A fishing fleet during the Cau Ngu (Whale Worshiping) Festival organised by authorities in Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang. Photo: NGUYEN XUAN TU

Solidarity for heading out to sea

Mr. Le Dung, the owner of the 840CV DNa 90098 TS from Xuan Ha Ward, Thanh Khe District, has joined the production team at sea since 2015 with 4 members.

According to Mr. Dung, during the long offshore fishing trips, fishermen always have to face many dangers of weather, or times of engine failure. At times like that, if they are alone, it will be very difficult to handle.

“My team has helped each other many times to tow fishing boats back to shore and repair broken engines at sea. Fishermen of the groups are united like a family, regularly informing each other about the situation of fishing grounds, helping each other in exploiting aquatic products, finding consumption markets and solving problems when the machine breaks down, or the ship sinks. When this group was established, we were also more responsible. Everyone proactively contacted and knew each other's position. That has helped us gain more confidence and become a solid support when going offshore," said Mr. Le Dung.

To prepare for the new offshore fishing trip, Mr. Do Cong Truong, the owner of the 740CV DNa 91318 TS from Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, and his crew are urgently checking, repairing, and painting the fishing boat. The factor that this captain is particularly interested in is ensuring the connection equipment and communication with members of the production solidarity group at sea No. 4 in Tho Quang Ward.

Mr. Truong shared that during the journey, if the boat is unfortunately damaged, it will be towed back to the mainland safely by other boats in the group. He is currently the leader of the team which currently has more than 7 members. The team was established on a voluntary basis in 2015 with only 3 members.

“Such teams act as a bridge to help fishermen exchange and learn from each other’s experiences. During the operation, the teams have become more structured in terms of the number of team members, specific regulations on the responsibilities and rights of each team member.

In addition to supporting each other in times of trouble, the fishing boats in the team also remind each other to comply with regulations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing when participating in fishing at sea, especially when there is a case of a fishing boat at risk of violating foreign waters, other fishing boats will immediately remind them,” said Mr. Truong.

A fisherman checking the connection device with other members of the solidarity group for production at sea. Photo: TRAN TRUC

Continue to improve operational efficiency

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Ha Ward in Thanh Khe District Nguyen Phuong Binh said that there are 5 solidarity groups for production at sea in the locality. During operation, the groups assign members to specialise in logistics, supply of materials, and product consumption, thereby reducing production costs and significantly increasing economic efficiency.

In particular, when participating in a team, members are supported with crew insurance (the city supports 100%) and fishing boat insurance (the Government supports 50%, the city supports 40%, the remaining 10% is paid by the vehicle owner).

In Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, in 2023, the ward mobilised 12 fishing boat owners to join the solidarity groups for production at sea. To date, the ward has 32 groups, including 21 offshore fishing groups and 11 inshore fishing groups, with a total of 230 boats, in which the number of offshore fishing vessels participating in the group is 230/244, reaching 94.2%.

According to Vice Chairman of Son Tra District People's Committee Huynh Van Hung, there are 71 solidarity groups for production at sea with 470 participating vessels in the district. 68 of them are offshore groups with 431 fishing boats, 3 groups with 13 boats, and 2 inshore groups with 45 boats.

In the coming time, the locality will concentrate on developing the quantity and improving the quality of activities of solidarity groups for production at sea; as well as coordinate with the People's Committees of wards to mobilise and propagate for owners of fishing vessels to participate in group activities.

At the same time, priority will be given to proposing that vessels participating in group activities enjoy support policies for fisheries promotion from the municipal and district-level fisheries promotion funds.

According to the city’s Fisheries Sub-Department, the sea production solidarity group was established on the principle of voluntariness and organized activities according to Decision No. 1214/QD-UBND dated March 22, 2018 of the municipal People's Committee on guidelines for the establishment, organization and operation of sea production solidarity groups applied in the city. This is the legal framework for the formation of sea production solidarity groups, transforming individual exploitation activities without cohesion into organized ones.

Up to now, the city has established 94 sea production solidarity groups with 680 participating fishing vessels.

Mr. Luu Quang Khanh, Head of the city’s Fisheries Sub-Department, said that the exploitation of seafood at sea in groups and teams has received the consensus and response of fishermen, helping the seafood exploitation industry to have many positive changes. Solidarity groups for production at sea are established on the basis of the same profession and the same fishing grounds, thereby exchanging fishing experiences and information on exploited fishing grounds. This is also one of the factors contributing to protecting the national sovereignty over its sacred sea and islands. The city's agricultural sector continues to work with the People's Committees of localities with centralised fisheries management to improve the operational efficiency of solidarity groups for production at sea, helping fishermen stabilise production and feel secure at sea.

Reporting by TRAN TRUC - Translating by M.DUNG