Mr. Chau chose to fish for beefish near the shore.

After casting nets near the shore, Mr. Vo Chau from Phong Hai commune (Phong Dien district) turns to fishing along the coast. Almost every day he catches over 5kg of sea bass. This season, sea fish are scarce and fresh, so they sell for a good price. Besides fishing for food, Mr. Chau earns several hundred thousand dong a day.

Mr. Chau said that after days of rough seas, many species of fish like mackerel, mullet, and other species come close to shore. Standing on the shore and fishing with a rod is not as dangerous as going out to sea in a boat to cast nets or set lines. The fishing equipment is also simple, just a bamboo fishing rod, a fishing line, and a few dozen hooks... costing a few hundred thousand dong.

Not everyone fishes near the shore; they often use boats to cast nets, which yield a lot of fish. Each fishing trip, after days of rough seas, usually brings in tens of kilograms of various types of fish, earning several million dong. Casting nets for many consecutive days can bring in tens of millions or even several tens of millions of dong.

Earning millions of dong from a fishing trip is no easy feat. At this time of year, the tides are unusually high and low, and the waters are not truly calm, making sailing out to sea very difficult and dangerous. Each time they try to navigate the waves to get out to sea, it can take an hour or more. Some boats struggle to reach the sea for a long time without success and have to be brought back to shore. Many boats are unfortunately sunk when encountering rough waves.

The fruits of an evening bee fishing trip.

Having grown up and been closely associated with the coastal region for decades, Mr. Vo Chau has witnessed many scenes and dangers lurking whenever fishermen exploit marine resources in the coastal areas during stormy seasons. Each time a boat sinks, the fishermen prioritize protecting their lives, regardless of the fact that their valuable boats are destroyed by the waves, and their fishing gear is damaged, resulting in losses of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dong.

Fortunately, in recent times, nearshore fishing activities by boat in the coastal areas of Ngũ Điền in general, and Phong Hải in particular, have not resulted in any loss of life. These experiences also demonstrate a high spirit of solidarity, mutual support, and assistance in times of hardship.

Every time a boat sets sail, dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of people gather on shore, ready to rescue any boat in distress. Only when all the boats have passed through the crashing waves do the fishermen on shore disperse. They then wait for the boats to return to shore, assisting in bringing them ashore, and especially providing rescue in case of accidents or boats sinking due to rough seas.

Even more dangerous is the "shore trawling" profession, where people cast nets to catch scad and mackerel. This profession usually requires at least two people: one to assist on shore, while the other swims out to sea to cast the nets, posing many risks. This profession was once very popular but is now becoming less common due to its dangers. In Phong Hai commune a few years ago, there was a drowning incident where a person was swept away by waves while trawling during a stormy season.

According to Mr. Vo Chau, after each period of strong sea currents, the marine resources near the shore are usually abundant. This is an opportunity for fishermen in coastal areas to make a living. However, almost all near-shore fishing activities carry many potential safety risks. Therefore, fishermen must be extremely vigilant and proactively respond whenever they fish near the shore.

Whether casting nets or using drag nets near the shore, fishermen must wear life jackets along with lifebuoys and work in large groups for mutual support in case of accidents. In particular, when the sea is not yet safe for fishing, it is advisable not to risk taking the boat out to sea. This is especially true for trawling and drag net fishing near the shore.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Suu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Hai commune (Phong Dien district), the local government always assigns officials to oversee the villages, coordinating with village heads to monitor the fishing activities of fishermen during the stormy season. Even after the storm, the sea is not yet truly safe, and the local authorities absolutely prohibit people from going out to sea. Fishing methods such as longline fishing and trawling close to shore are encouraged, but fishermen are advised to be vigilant and ensure their safety.

Text and photos: Hoang The