Fishermen enjoy bumper catch of skipjack tuna

In recent days, although the Covid-19 pandemic has made impact on all aspects of life, Quy Nhon fishing port (Binh Dinh province) has been busy with fishing boats making land for selling their catches. Just early in the morning, there were dozens of boats arriving the shore to sell what they have caught.

It’s now skipjack tuna harvesting season, most of the fishing boats in Binh Dinh going out to the deep sea for fishing, have returned to the shore after nearly one month of going fishing in the sea, all boats had big catches, full of skipjack tuna. Some boats caught a lot of fishes up to 30 tons or at least 15-20 tons.

Fisherman Huynh Chanh Thi, owner of boat No.BĐ 96851 TS practicing fishing with trawling net, specializing in catching skipjack tuna, living in Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh province, shared: “This trip, we caught a lot of fishes, almost every boat had a bumper catch. Many boats earned up to VND 600 million, we are all very happy. In spite of high costs and lower prices of skipjack tuna, thanks to big catches, every boat has good income.”

Nguyen Thi Hoa, a trader specializing in purchasing fishes at Quy Nhon port, said that this trip, most of fishing boats have made land with big catches of high-quality tuna. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the prices of skipjack tuna are now lower than before, varying between VND18,000 and VND20,000 per kilogram.  

According to fisherman Bui Thanh Ninh, owner of 8 large-capacity fishing boats specializing in catching skipjack tuna, living in Tam Quan Bac ward, Hoai Nhon town, before the covid-19 pandemic broke out, the prices of skipjack tuna were above VND22,000 per kilogram. Now, the prices decrease a bit. However, big catches could make up for the additional costs of fuel and food and other related expenses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ninh added: if before, the cost for a trip was around VND 140 million per boat, it now increases to VND160 million. The reason is that this trip, fishermen have to pay higher fuel prices that increased from VND 16,000 per liter to VND 17,000 per liter. The prices of food and foodstuff also increased.

“In addition, each boat when going out to the sea for fishing has to pay an additional cost for Covid-19 tests for all crew. But when returning the port we have to test for covid-19 once again. So, each trip, boat owners have to pay an additional cost of nearly VND4 million for the Covid-19 prevention and control,” fisherman Bui Thanh Ninh shared.

Currently, Quy Nhon fishing port is not under the lockdown because the province has not yet imposed the social distancing measure in accordance with Directive 16. Therefore, apart from boats of Binh Dinh fihsermen, this full moon season, there are many fishing boats from other provinces. They made land at Quy Nhon fishing port to sell their catches, and then buying necessaries for the next fishing trips. Hence, the Management Board of Quy Nhon fishing port is making efforts to facilitate boats departing and arriving at the port, and at the same time ensure the principles of the Covid-19 prevention and control.