Fishermen actively applying modern technology in harvesting

As an independent scientific institution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries has recently provided numerous consultations and transferred the application of scientific and technological research results to businesses and local communities.

On average, the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries undertakes and successfully completes 19.2 scientific and technological tasks every year. Notably, all of these tasks consistently met the required standards, including 85% of the tasks achieving a rating of "good" or higher.

With regards to the field of seafood harvesting, the Institute has implemented the transfer of three technologies into practical production between 2016 and 2023, including: a hydraulic winch system for trap netting, a hydraulic winch system for bottom trawl netting, and an LED lighting system for trap netting.

These technologies, when applied in practice, have consistently provided high economic value for the local population and have been successfully replicated among the community engaged in offshore seafood harvesting.

Based on the project outlines approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Institute has selected suitable locations for the practical implementation of the hydraulic winch system in the provinces and cities of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, and the LED lighting system in the provinces of Nghe An and Quang Binh.

The Institute has closely coordinated with the local Sub-Departments of Fisheries, Agricultural Extension Centers, agricultural and rural development offices, to facilitate the technology transfer process to the fishermen community at a local level.

Additionally, the Institute has partnered with several businesses such as Rang Dong Lamp and Water Flask Joint Stock Company, Nhu Nga Limited Company, to provide equipment, technical support, training, and communication throughout the transfer process.

After the hydraulic winch system was transferred, fishermen benefited from reduced costs and number of laborers, which resulted in increased labor productivity and harvesting yield. This technology also reduces net-hauling time, thereby enhancing the quality of harvested seafood.

Furthermore, it contributes to increasing the safety of fishermen during the deployment and retrieval of nets at sea. Without the need for manual operation of the nets, associated risks have been significantly mitigated in comparison to traditional fishing practices. Consequently, fishermen have seen a considerable increase in income levels. This development encourages fishermen to sustain prolonged trips at sea, thereby contributing to the gradual alleviation of labor shortages in maritime harvesting.

"By using the hydraulic winch system to retrieve the nets, we reduced the workforce needed for each sea trip by two to three people. Consequently, the harvest yield and profits increased by nearly one and a half times," shared Mr. Dinh Nhu Sua, a fisherman in Lap Le commune, Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong city, and owner of the wooden-hulled vessel HP-90989 TS.

According to the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries, the unit has successfully transferred 32 hydraulic winch models to replace the traditional mechanical winches used in offshore squid trap fishing in various provinces and cities. To date, approximately 650 models have been replicated nationwide, funded by the fishermen's personal investments.

Thanks to the hydraulic winch system, labor productivity has increased by 15 to 25%, profits rose by 15 to 16%, income grew by 1.5 times, and the number of nets retrieved at night increased by 2 to 3 due to reduced net-hauling time.

Furthermore, the hydraulic winch contributes to extending the lifespan of the net from 3 to 4 months to 6 to 7 months, enhances labor safety in the process of deploying and retrieving nets, and reduces the number of crew members on trap netting boats by 2 to 3 when installing the hydraulic winch system.

The installation of these technological models is rapidly spreading nationwide, with the number of vessels equipped with the hydraulic winch system increasing rapidly. Survey results indicate that all newly constructed trap netting vessels express a desire to install this new hydraulic winch system.

Regarding the LED lighting technology, its usage has helped seafood harvesting vessels save approximately 35.8 to 47.6% of generator fuel, thereby increasing harvesting productivity by 1.4 to 2.08 times, boosting revenue by 1.02 to 1.24 times, and raising voyage profits by 1.41 to 2.53 times.

Additionally, LED lamps emit directional light and have low heat dissipation during operation, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the environment compared to Metal Halide lamps. Thanks to a lack of ultraviolet (UV) rays, this technology is not harmful to the eyes and does not cause burns to the skin of the fishermen on the vessel, ensuring safety for the health of the crew.

"The hydraulic winch system helps reduce the number of laborers, which is important in solving the widespread issue of labor shortage facing many vessel owners today. With the help of this system, the net-hauling time is shortened, and fishermen experience less fatigue, allowing for an increased number of nets for bottom trawl fishing or an increased number of batches for trap netting," stated Mr. Nguyen Khac Bat, General Director of the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries.