Series of fishing vessels laid-up ashore

Purple back squid costs just VND 12,000 per kg

Fisherman Dang Van Khoa, owner of the steel-hulled fishing boat BD 99979 TS (829 CV) practicing trapping net at Cat Thanh commune (Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh), said that his ship had traveled just four times since the beginning of the year. Khoa lost more than VND400 million in the first three sails due to insufficient aqua goods gathered and the unpredictable pricing of items.

Khoa's fishing boat did not gather a sufficient amount of goods until lunar June, at which point he earned a profit of more than VND 100 million. The pleasure did not last long when Khoa was informed about the dire state of aqua products consumption. As a consequence, he left his fishing boat ashore.

Khoa said that the trapping net is mostly used to capture purpleback squid, which is currently selling for just VND 12,000 per kilogram, halving the price from the previous trip.

Due to the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic, which impedes the movement of fresh aqua products to processing facilities both inside and outside the province, many fishermen are now in the same predicament as Khoa.

“A few years ago, when we were unable to sell the squid, we sold it to coastal fisherman who specialized in chopping and drying squid to store for sale. However, owing to the local government's preventive efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, big gatherings of people are prohibited, and therefore no one dares to purchase squid and employ workers to chop and dry it, "explained Khoa.

Clinging to the sea in order to retain labor

According to fisherman Ngo Le Hat, owner of steel-hulled fishing boat BD 99168 TS in Cat Khanh commune (Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh), his fleet consists of more than ten boats, but only one has been left sailing off by fisherman Nong Thanh Dien in Cat Thanh commune (Phu Cat district).

The remaining boats are anchored at De Gi fishing port (Phu Cat district) after the trader declared that product consumption has ceased to be smooth, and therefore no one dares to go offshore.

However, fishing boat owners must be concerned about the lack of sailers post-pandemic, since laborers would need to find another source of income if the ships are left onshore.

Faced with a tough position, many fishermen have chosen to leave their ships clinging to the sea in order to maintain their number of labors. For instance, take the case of the elderly fisherman Bui Thanh Ninh, who owns eight large-capacity fishing boats that specialize in capturing striped tuna in the Tam Quan Bac district (Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh).

Ninh has years of expertise in fisheries job, and as a result, he has a large clientele. Despite the fact that the consumption is more difficult than in the past, his work has remained consistent, with eight fishing boats sailing out regularly.

Ninh said that any ship embarking on a voyage must pay an extra fee to cover crew members' quick testing for the Covid-19 pandemic. The total cost of testing for the crew of 14 fishermen is VND 1.9 million.

When the ship docked, 14 crew members were required to do another short test again, costing the owner of each voyage approximately VND 4 million for the test aimed at ensuring the Covid-19 prevention.

"It is costly, but it is safe for you. The seafaring profession is becoming increasingly difficult on all fronts; costs are increasing, fish prices are low, and income is meager; however, I continue to allow my ships to go fishing on a regular basis, so that more or less crew members have income to support their families", Ninh explained.

There has been a strong southerly wind recently, and the fishing boats moored at De Gi Fishing Port are packed. When the wind blows, the anchorage collides, causing damage to the ship and  owners must spend an amount of money for the repairing works.