After a 16-day sea trip to Truong Sa fishing ground, fishing boat BD-99028TS captained by Mr. Nguyen Van Lai (residing in Hai Cang ward, Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province) returned to Quy Nhon fishing port with a hold containing 18 tons of striped catfish and 50 tuna.

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Binh Dinh fishermen bring waste ashore (Photo: Diem Phuc)

Along with bringing seafood ashore, the fishermen of fishing boat BD-99028TS also brought 13kg of plastic waste collected from sea collection activities ashore to hand over to the Quy Nhon Fishing Port Plastic Waste Collection Team for processing. Mr. Nguyen Van Lai, captain of boat BD-99028TS, said that this was the second trip he and the fishermen on the boat had collected and brought waste ashore.

“When we were informed and given garbage bags, we gradually became more aware and did not throw garbage into the sea. After eating and drinking, if there was garbage, we put it in the bag and brought it to shore and always reminded each other to raise awareness of environmental protection...”, Mr. Lai shared.

Having just handed over 8kg of plastic waste brought from the open sea to the Quy Nhon Fishing Port Waste Collection Team, fisherman Nguyen Van Luyen (80 years old, residing in Hai Cang ward, Quy Nhon city) excitedly said: "The fact that fishermen unanimously brought all the waste to shore is a meaningful act that contributes to the marine environment not being polluted..."

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Garbage bags hang on the side of the boat for fishermen to collect waste and bring it to shore (Photo: Diem Phuc)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Le, Head of the Quy Nhon Fishing Port Plastic Waste Collection Team, said that the plastic waste collection program on fishing boats has been implemented since the end of November 2023. Up to now, the Quy Nhon Fishing Port Plastic Waste Collection Team has collected 102kg of plastic waste from 10 fishing boats. The types of waste collected include white plastic bottles, colored plastic bottles, bottle caps and various types of packaging.

“When fishermen bring back trash, we will collect and classify the trash and at the same time educate the fishermen to raise awareness,” Ms. Le shared.

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When waste is brought in, it will be collected by the Quy Nhon Fishing Port Plastic Waste Collection Team (Photo: Diem Phuc)

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Weighing plastic waste when fishermen hand it over (Photo: Diem Phuc)

Director of Binh Dinh Fishing Port Management Board Dao Xuan Thien said that when fishing boats operate at sea, fishermen will put household items such as water bottles and instant noodle bags into garbage bags after use. After the fishing boats come ashore, fishermen will also bring these garbage bags in. The plastic waste collection team at the fishing port will receive and bring them to the fishing boat plastic waste collection house, then sell them to plastic material factories for recycling.

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Plastic bottles and instant noodle bags are collected (Photo: Diem Phuc)

“Previously, fishermen did not bring garbage in but threw it into the sea, creating a garbage area that affected the ocean, the marine environment, and the ecosystem. Bringing garbage to shore is a good thing to reduce ocean plastic waste.

At the port, we always encourage fishermen to bring back waste from the sea, which will help spread to people living around the area and operating at the port. They will see that if waste from the sea can still be brought in, then those on shore must be responsible for protecting the environment and not littering," said Mr. Thien.

Happiness