Fishermen in Nghe An province are delighted to welcome the "bounty of the sea" at the beginning of the year.

On February 16th (the 7th day of the Lunar New Year), dozens of fishing boats docked at Quynh Lap fishing port after their first fishing trips of the year, bringing back fresh seafood to supply the market.

For fishermen, the first fishing trip of the year is of immense importance, carrying many hopes and wishes for a year of good fortune, favorable weather, and abundant catches of shrimp and fish.

Fishing boats from Quynh Lap commune return after their first fishing trip with dozens of tons of anchovies. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Returning from his fishing trip, fisherman Phan Van Tuy, owner of the fishing boat NA-99678-TS, excitedly shared that today was his first "opening trip" of the new year. His boat set sail on the 5th day of Tet (Lunar New Year), catching over 30 tons of anchovies. Traders bought them at over 13,000 VND/kg, bringing in nearly 400 million VND. In the early days of the year, fewer boats went out to sea, so anchovies were purchased at relatively high prices by local processing and drying facilities.

Fisherman Nguyen Phuc Hanh, owner of fishing boat NA-90155-TS, happily shared that this year the weather was favorable, so his family's boat set sail from the 4th day of Tet (Lunar New Year). On the very first trip, they caught over 20 tons of anchovies and some shrimp and squid. The successful opening trip brought joy to the crew, as it provided a significant additional income after the Tet holiday.

Fishermen transport fish ashore. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Besides the large-capacity vessels fishing offshore, from the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year), many smaller local boats have been harvesting krill in the nearshore waters. These fishing trips usually start in the evening and continue until dawn the next day, bringing joy to many fishing families at the beginning of the new year. Compared to the period before Tet, the krill yield has decreased, but each boat that goes out overnight still manages to harvest around 1 ton of krill.

Fishing boats from Quynh Phuong ward have been consistently catching large hauls of herring. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Not only in Quynh Lap commune, but also in other coastal communes and wards such as Quynh Phuong and Quynh Di, fishermen are excited after their first fishing trips of the year, mainly bringing in herring, mantis shrimp, and crabs. At Quynh Phuong fishing port, dozens of tons of herring were harvested near the shore by local fishermen after 1-2 days of casting their nets. On average, each boat caught 1-2 tons per trip, with some boats reaching up to 5 tons. The nets were full of herring, glistening in the early morning sun, making many fishermen happy for a bountiful day.

Freshly caught herring near the shore. Photo: Thanh Thuy.

According to information from the People's Committee of Quynh Phuong ward, for the past two days, small local fishing boats operating near the shore have continuously caught large hauls of herring, with the total herring production of the ward reaching approximately 100 tons.

Fishermen are exhausted from removing herring from the sardines. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Currently, Hoang Mai town has over 1,000 fishing vessels, of which more than 400 operate in offshore waters, employing fishing methods such as purse seine, trawl, gillnet, and drift net. The total catch in 2023 is estimated at over 59,410 tons. Therefore, the first fishing trips of the year not only provide fishermen with additional income but also signify the beginning of a new fishing season filled with hope and confidence in a successful catch.

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