Project to relocate more than 2,500 boats to Tam Quan fishing port: 'Think deeply, do big'

Gia Lai is blessed with a 24km long coastline and two estuaries (Tam Quan and An Du). With the foundation of the fisheries industry increasingly asserting its role in the economic structure, and a methodical approach, Gia Lai province is gradually realizing its vision of double-digit GRDP growth.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Gia Lai, the province currently has 5,425 fishing boats with a total capacity of 1.97 million horsepower (CV).

To effectively implement Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of the 12th Party Central Committee on the strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, one of the key contents is the province's decision to relocate 2,561 fishing boats from existing ports to anchor at Tam Quan fishing port (Hoai Nhon Bac ward).

This is not only an infrastructure relocation solution to reduce the load and beautify the coastal urban area, but also opens up new development space for the province.

Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan emphasized that the relocation of boats is necessary to create favorable conditions for service and tourism development and effectively implement the Marine Economic Development Strategy.

This is a fundamental task for Gia Lai to create a sustainable development environment for the fisheries sector, reduce exploitation intensity, and move towards increasing the value of the production chain linking processing-consumption-export. The goal for the coming period is to reduce exploitation intensity, reduce the fleet, develop sustainable fisheries, and build a master plan for the province's fisheries sector.

Accordingly, 469 ships will be withdrawn from Quy Nhon fishing port, 2,092 ships will leave De Gi fishing port to gather at Tam Quan, which is being synchronously planned to become a modern regional fishing logistics center.

To receive the above number of relocated fishing vessels, Gia Lai province plans to expand the area of Tam Quan Fishing Port and anchorage area by about 95 hectares towards the sea, and at the same time build a resettlement area of about 30 hectares for affected households.

Fishing boat owners who relocate and need to build a house for settlement will be allocated 1 plot of land/household in the resettlement area in Tam Quan Bac ward in the form of land allocation by the state with land use fees collected at specific land prices. Support for 12 months of fishing boat maintenance during the initial period of settling down; boats under 15m in length will be supported 120,000 VND/day, boats 15m or longer in length will be supported 150,000 VND/day.

The state will collect liquidated fishing vessels to be disposed of by destruction or liquidation, and remove them from the fishing vessel management system. For the hull of a fishing vessel, 80% of the new building price will be supported with a support level of more than 21.7 million VND/registered ton; for the main engine of a fishing vessel, 100% of the price of a used fishing vessel engine will be supported, with a support level of 845,000 VND/CV.

Motorboats and motorboats with the longest length under 6m are supported with 15 million/boat; rowing boats with the longest length under 6m are supported with 10 million/boat.

During a recent field survey, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc affirmed that the core motto of the relocation project is "think deeply, do big".

The implementation of the Project to relocate boats at Quy Nhon fishing port and De Gi fishing port is a step that demonstrates long-term vision, linking marine spatial planning with overall socio-economic development planning and ensuring social security for fishermen in coastal areas.

This is not simply a matter of rearranging the fishing space, but must be linked to coastal urban development plans, improving transport infrastructure, connecting ports - processing plants - consumption chains and even tourism - marine services. This is a way for Gia Lai to expand its economic space, while affirming the province's position, mettle and strategic vision in the new development stage.

In the next few years, when the project to relocate boats is completed and Tam Quan fishing port becomes a regional fishing logistics center, Gia Lai will be like a symbol, reaching out to the open sea with a pioneering spirit and strong aspirations for development.

Quote 3: The province's offshore fishing fleet has now reached more than 5,700 vessels, with an estimated catch of about 281,200 tons in 2024. Notably, there are more than 1,400 vessels specializing in catching ocean tuna, becoming the largest tuna fishing force in the country.