Fishermen in Quynh Luu earn millions of dong every day thanks to a bumper catch of herring.

Fishermen in Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu district) pull bundles of herring from their nets ashore. Photo: Viet Hung

Around 7 a.m., fishermen from Quynh Nghia commune gathered in large numbers on the beach to harvest herring. Nets were cast out in batches to make it easier for people to remove the fish. Quickly removing the fish, fisherman Ho Xuan Sang said that this season is mainly for herring schools, so all fishermen are taking advantage of the opportunity to go out to sea to catch them. If they go out to sea around 3 a.m., they can harvest the herring by 6 a.m. the same day.

“After three hours of fishing for herring, my boat caught 200 kg of herring this morning. After deducting expenses, I earned about 3.5 million VND. Since Tet (Lunar New Year), I've made 10 such trips, totaling over 30 million VND in income,” fisherman Ho Xuan Sang said excitedly.

Fisherman Ho Xuan Sang is delighted with his successful herring catch on this trip. Photo: Viet Hung

Sharing in the joy, Mr. Nguyen Van Tu's boat in Quynh Nghia commune caught a bountiful 180 kg of herring after only 3 hours at sea. Mr. Tu said that fishermen catch herring from the beginning of the first lunar month until the end of the third lunar month. Depending on the region, people use large-capacity boats to catch herring in offshore areas, but for fishermen in Quynh Nghia commune, they mainly fish near the shore, 5-6 nautical miles from the mainland. Each boat going out to fish for herring has only one person and 4-5 bundles of nets as fishing gear. Wherever they go, the fishermen cast their nets until they are all gone, then return to simply pull the nets back onto the boat.

Herring fishing depends on the fish schools; if lucky, they can catch 400-500 kg, but the average is usually 150-250 kg. After returning to shore, each boat owner will mobilize relatives or hire laborers to remove the fish from the nets. Because the fishing only takes a few hours, the herring are always fresh when removed. As soon as the fish are removed, traders come to buy them all at prices ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 VND/kg (depending on the type), and then take them to markets to sell. Every day I go herding for about 2-3 hours and can earn millions of dong. When the season ends, we switch to another profession to ensure a source of income.
Fisherman Nguyen Van Tu

Because they are caught near the shore, the herring are fresh and vibrant when pulled up. Photo: Viet Hung

Fishermen gather to remove the fish from the nets. Photo: Viet Hung

Quynh Nghia commune has nearly 50 boats specializing in coastal fishing, mainly catching herring, mantis shrimp, crabs, and scad... Since the Lunar New Year, fishermen here have mainly been fishing for herring with nets, with a catch of over 150 tons and revenue exceeding 3 billion VND.

Mr. To Duy Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu district), said: “Taking advantage of the favorable conditions, in the early days of the new year, local fishermen are actively going out to sea to catch seafood. The entire commune currently has over 94 offshore fishing vessels, in addition to dozens of vessels specializing in inshore fishing. For inshore fishing boats, at this time, fishermen are mainly catching herring. With such high production and value, the local people have a stable source of income. This is also a motivation for them to continue going out to sea, trusting and hoping for a successful fishing year.”

Traders buy herring and then take it to the market to sell. Photo: Viet Hung

Not only fishermen in Quynh Nghia commune, but also people in several coastal communes of Quynh Luu district such as Quynh Long, Quynh Luong, Quynh Minh, Quynh Bang... are actively fishing for herring. Every day, fishermen in this district harvest about 30-35 tons of herring. With the daily herring catch, in addition to selling it fresh at markets, people in the coastal areas also dry it in the sun or grill it over charcoal to preserve it for longer.

Herring, scientifically known as Sardinella, is a relatively small marine fish, with an adult weighing only about 100 grams and measuring approximately 15 cm in length. The fish has slightly bluish skin and scales, an elongated body, and relatively small bones. Notably, it has very sharp, serrated edges on its underside. Herring offers many health benefits, including increased red blood cell production; reduced inflammation and certain diseases; decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke; improved bone health; and nourishment of the nervous system.

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