Nghe An fishermen in the season of pulling nets

Pulling a trawl net on Quynh Phuong beach. Photo: Thanh Thuy

At 5am, we arrived at Quynh Phuong beach. The sun had not yet risen above the sea but groups of people were already nimbly pulling their nets ashore.

With a strong hand lifting the heavy net, Mr. Dau Duc Khuong, Than Ai block, Quynh Phuong ward said that this was the second trip of the day. His boat set out for the first trip at 1 am. Mr. Khuong and another young man were responsible for rowing the basket boat 1-1.5 km away from shore to cast the net. Normally, the nets are 2,000-3,000 m long. One end of the net is kept on the shore, the other end is carried onto the basket boat and cast out to sea in an arc shape until the entire length of the net is reached.

Fishermen begin to pull in their nets. Photo: Thanh Thuy

After about 2 hours, the fishermen began to collect the net. On the shore, more than a dozen men and women divided into two groups, standing on either side, pulling back and gradually moving closer together as the net was brought closer to shore. At this time, seafood such as fish, shrimp, crab, squid, etc. would be caught and gathered at the end of the net. The closer to shore, the more the fish struggled, jumped into the air, and fell into the net.

Mr. Khuong said, depending on the fish flow, each time they pull, on a good day they can catch several hundred kilograms of seafood of all kinds, but on other trips they can only catch 5-7 kilograms. Some boats earn over 5 million VND after just a few hours of casting their nets.

Fish caught in the net. Photo: Thanh Thuy

The seafood in the forest net is quite diverse, but mainly croaker, anchovy, herring, squid, shrimp. Because the seafood is still fresh when it reaches the shore, the selling price is quite high. The retail price of croaker and anchovy is 40,000-50,000 VND/kg, and the wholesale price to traders is 25,000-30,000 VND/kg. Flashing squid costs 300,000 VND, cuttlefish 150,000 VND/kg.

Trawling in the forest is mainly done by elderly women. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Sitting on the sand to rest and quickly eat breakfast after 2 fishing trips, Mrs. Dau Thi Nhan (68 years old, resident of Than Ai block, Quynh Phuong ward) said that in the locality, young and strong men follow boats to exploit seafood for long days in the open sea, while the work of pulling the net near the shore is less strenuous, so it is mainly for older women. Regardless of the time of year, whenever the weather is favorable and the sea is calm, fishermen pull the net.

On less days, there are 2-3 trips, on days when there are many fish close to shore, there can be up to 5 trips. People take advantage of the opportunity to eat and rest under the shade of trees near the shore while waiting to pull in the fish. People will start going to sea from 1-2 am and return home at 11 am. If the weather is good, each person can earn 500,000 VND on the highest day, 50,000 VND on the lowest day. Compared to living conditions in the countryside, it is still a living.

Ms. Dau Thi Nhan (Than Ai block, Quynh Phuong ward)

The joy of fishermen when their nets catch a lot of fish. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Fishermen classify fish. Photo: Thanh Thuy

The trawling profession in Hoang Mai town is mainly concentrated in Quynh Phuong ward. Mr. Ho Xuan Huong - Chairman of the ward People's Committee said that this profession has existed for a long time, passed down from father to son. Previously, the locality had dozens of boats participating in fishing with trawls. However, up to now, due to the depletion of near-shore seafood resources, only 3 families are still doing the profession, the remaining fishermen have switched to other seafaring jobs.

However, Quynh Phuong is a tourist beach, so if this traditional craft is preserved, it may become an experience for tourists in the future.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/ngu-dan-nghe-an-vao-mua-keo-luoi-rung-post287144.html