Local fishermen eager back to the sea in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province

(VAN) Local fishermen are eager to be back to the sea to go fishing in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province after a long period of anchoring due to social distancing.

Nguyen Minh Son, a fisherman of Phuoc Hai Town, said his life was very difficult because of the social distancing triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going fishing near the shore was the traditional job that brings the main income for most fishermen in the province for a long time, he said.

Thus, when the fishermen are allowed to go to the sea to catch fish, they feel very happy, he added.

Many boats have to anchor for many days at the wharf because of social distancing in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province Photo: Minh Sang. — Many boats have to anchor for many days at the wharf because of social distancing in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province Photo: *Minh Sang.*

After hearing the news that they can be back to the sea, Son and many fishermen are urgently checking fishing gear, mending nets, repairing boats to set sail with an excited mood for a new sea season.

Huynh Van Hong, another fisherman, who has over 20 years of going fishing near the shore said “We have been lived on the sea for decades, so, when we have to leave the sea for a long time, everyone remembers the sea.”

The fish we catch from the sea, we would sell to buy rice, necessities and fishing gear, he said.

Local fishermen feel very excited when they are allowed to be back to the sea. Photo: Minh Sang. — Local fishermen feel very excited when they are allowed to be back to the sea. Photo: *Minh Sang.*

Tran Dinh Hoan, a fisherman of Binh Hoa Village, Binh Chau Commune, who are holding a hammer to fix his boat’s propeller that is warped after a long time of anchoring, said his life is very hard during the past two months when he has to stay at home because of social distancing.

“Now, I could go to the sea to catch fish and earn living, I feel very happy,” he said.

He is committed to fully comply with regulations on pandemic prevention and control, he added.

The town’s administration has told hundreds of boat owners to arrange rotational fishing and the fishermen must strictly obey the regulations on pandemic prevention and control.

Accordingly, the boat owners are granted cards to go fishing on even-odd days.

The authorised agencies will supervise both of the fishing activities as well as the consumption of aquatic products after the boat landed to ensure the compliance of the regulations on pandemic prevention and control, a representative of the local administration said.

After long days of social distancing, the province’s decision to allow fishermen to go to the sea has made the atmosphere of the coastal fishing villages become much more lively and joyful over the past few days. Photo: Minh Sang. — After long days of social distancing, the province’s decision to allow fishermen to go to the sea has made the atmosphere of the coastal fishing villages become much more lively and joyful over the past few days. Photo: *Minh Sang.*

In the meantime, the whole province has allowed to restore the operation of fishing ports and fishing vessels.

However, it must ensure the compliance of the regulations on pandemic prevention and control as well as the implementation of removing the yellow card of the European Commission on fighting against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The provincial People’s Committee said after the pandemic was under control, the committee decided to restore the operation of local fishing ports and fishing vessels.

The pandemic prevention and control has been tightly implemented at fishing ports from the first days after social distancing in the province. Photo: Tran Trung. — The pandemic prevention and control has been tightly implemented at fishing ports from the first days after social distancing in the province. Photo: *Tran Trung.*

Nearly 100 logistics service vessels are dispatched to the sea to supply food and fuel for hundreds of fishing vessels operating at sea, the committee said.

Le Tong Van, head of the provincial Fisheries Division said the province has selected fishing vessels that are eligible for going fishing and unloading seafood at fishing ports, which are allowed to be operated.

The province also speeds up the registration of fishing vessels; issuing certificates of food safety and fishing permits for local fishing vessels to resume operation, he said.

Van said the province has also promoted dissemination of removing the yellow card of the European Commission on fighting against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to local fishermen.

Many fishing vessels in the province are still waiting to complete the registration procedures to go fishing after many days of social distancing. Photo: Tran Trung. — Many fishing vessels in the province are still waiting to complete the registration procedures to go fishing after many days of social distancing. Photo: *Tran Trung.*

The province has set a target of aquaculture growth this year at the highest level for striving although the storms and tropical low-pressure systems are forecast to often occur in the last months of the year, he said.

Although many fishing vessels in the province are still waiting to complete the registration procedures to go fishing after many days of social distancing, the province’s decision to allow fishermen to go to the sea has made the atmosphere of the coastal fishing villages become much more lively and joyful over the past few days.

Data from the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development shows that the province now has 5,771 fishing vessels with more than 30,000 fishermen.

Of which, nearly 50 per cent of fishing vessels are going offshore. Currently, nearly 90 per cent of offshore fishing vessels have installed vessel monitoring devices.

The average output of fisheries is about 350,000 tonnes per year.

Author: Minh Sang - Tran Trung

Translated by Thu Hang