The Cua Khau estuary is silting up, causing fishermen to suffer double losses.

Along a stretch of over 2km passing through Hai Ninh ward, numerous sandbars have recently emerged. This indicates a complex level of sedimentation in the estuary, preventing dozens of fishing boats from Hai Ninh ward from returning to shore. In particular, when the tide recedes, almost all boat activity is completely paralyzed.

The water level in the main channel is now less than 1 meter, making it difficult for boats to enter and dock. Many fishing boats, after entering the Cua Khau channel, cannot return to port and have to anchor more than 1km further out, then use smaller boats to transport seafood ashore, which is both time-consuming and costly.

Fisherman Le Hong Nhat (Tam Hai Hamlet, Hai Ninh Ward) shared: "After finishing fishing, when the boats return to shore to sell the catch, they encounter shallow waterways, making it impossible to enter. Calling smaller boats to transport the fish ashore for sale costs millions of dong, and the price of seafood drops due to the waiting time, causing the fish to lose its freshness. Fishermen suffer double losses."

Ships run aground due to siltation in the channel.

Previously, the Cua Khau channel had two main channels, each over 100m wide and 3.5-4m deep, allowing 4 to 5 large vessels to dock safely and conveniently simultaneously. Currently, channel 1 is completely silted up, and channel 2 is not much better. Many vessels cannot enter the channel and have to anchor 2-3km from the shore. When the tide is high, even if they manage to enter, they run aground on the way back, having to wait for the tide to recede, missing their fishing trips. Especially during the rainy and stormy seasons, it is very dangerous for vessels to seek shelter due to running aground and being unable to reach the shore, making them vulnerable to being sunk by the waves.

Fisherman Tran Dinh Tung (Tam Hai Hamlet, Hai Ninh Ward) said: "Running aground, resulting in broken propellers, damaged rudders, and hull damage, happens frequently. It's especially dangerous during storms; many boats seeking shelter run aground right at the mouth of the estuary, unable to pass through. There have been instances where boats have been sunk by waves."

Border Guard forces encouraged fishermen to make efforts to overcome difficulties and continue fishing at sea.

The consequences of siltation in the Cua Khau estuary not only compromise the safety of fishing trips but also disrupt fishing activities in the southern part of Ha Tinh province. Even during this year's southern fishing season, dozens of fishing boats have been forced to remain ashore for extended periods. This is partly due to the scarcity of seafood in the fishing grounds and partly due to the difficulties caused by the shallow estuary, significantly impacting the morale of the fishermen.

Mr. Vu Hoang Xuan Hung, Deputy Head of the Economic , Infrastructure and Urban Planning Department of Hai Ninh Ward, said: "Recently, fishermen's boats have been docked for extended periods due to siltation at the estuary and unstable fishing grounds. The local government regularly encourages fishermen to take advantage of favorable conditions to go out to sea and engage in production. It is known that there will soon be a plan to build a fishing port here. We hope that relevant departments will invest in its construction on a large scale, especially in dredging the Cua Khau estuary to create favorable conditions for fishermen to confidently exploit marine resources."

The Cua Khau Canal was once the lifeline of the fishing industry in southern Ha Tinh province. Sedimentation has not only caused economic losses but also directly threatened the lives and property of fishermen. Dredging and clearing the Cua Khau Canal is an urgent solution to help fishermen continue to venture out to sea and maintain their livelihoods.

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