Fishermen hunt for "bounties of the sea" along the coast.

Without having to venture far out to sea, with just small boats and canoes, fishermen can bring in fresh seafood near the shore, providing a stable source of income.

Many small traders were present from early morning to buy shrimp paste from fishermen. Photo: NGOC QUOC

At dawn, the coastline of Tho Quang ward (Son Tra district) bustles with the laughter and chatter of fishermen and traders buying and selling krill (also known as sea shrimp or krill). For the fishermen of Tho Quang, this is a "bounty" from the sea, bringing in a significant income. According to fisherman Nguyen Van Dung (Tho Quang ward), to harvest krill, fishermen go out to sea at 5 PM and return to shore around 5 AM the next morning.

Shrimp usually congregate in one place, 10-80 meters from the shore, floating densely on the water's surface. Therefore, a single deep net haul yields between 500 grams and over 1 kilogram of shrimp. Many fishermen say that this year's shrimp yield is not as abundant as in previous years. Mr. Mai Van Cao (Tho Quang ward) shared: “In previous years, the shrimp yield was very high; each fishing trip could bring in a hundred kilograms of shrimp. However, this year the yield has decreased significantly, with many boats only catching a few tens of kilograms per trip. Meanwhile, rising fuel prices have affected our income.”

Ms. Dang Thi Hong (Thanh Khe district) and many other small traders were present at Tho Quang beach from 5 am to buy shrimp paste to supply the market. According to Ms. Hong, the decrease in production has caused the price of shrimp paste to almost double compared to last year. While last year, fresh shrimp paste was abundant with prices ranging from 30,000-40,000 VND/kg, this year the price has increased to 70,000-80,000 VND/kg. Shrimp paste for making fish sauce, which used to cost 7,000 VND/kg, has now increased to 10,000-15,000 VND/kg.

Currently, fishermen harvesting krill are mainly concentrated in Tho Quang, Nai Hien Dong, Man Thai, and Thuan Phuoc wards (Hai Chau district). In particular, Thuan Phuoc ward has about 20 households harvesting krill along the coast near Tien Sa port, Hon Chao, and the Son Tra peninsula. Ms. Le Thi Bong (a fisherwoman from Thuan Phuoc ward) with 18 years of experience in krill harvesting said that this year's krill yield is lower than in previous years. When sea water temperatures change, with strong winds and cold air, the krill schools are less frequent or mostly dive underwater, making fishing more difficult. Despite the low yield, the price of krill is higher than in previous years. Each month, she earns over 10 million VND from krill harvesting, allowing her to support her family and raise her three children.

Besides catching krill, many fishermen in Tho Quang and Man Thai wards are familiar with hunting juvenile lobsters (also known as baby lobsters), which provides a stable daily income. Mr. Truong Van Tu (Man Thai ward) said that the juvenile lobster hunting season begins in the tenth lunar month and ends in the third of the following year, with two main types: spiny lobsters and green lobsters. Fishermen use folded cement bags to form round fans and tie them into sections about 2 meters long, dropping them to the seabed near the shore to trap the lobsters. In addition, fishermen use sandbags and plastic bottles to keep the traps upright. In the morning, fishermen paddle their boats out to check the traps, gently shaking the lobsters onto nets spread out on the boat. Then, they carefully place them in jars with oxygen pumps to keep the lobsters healthy, before bringing them ashore to sell to traders. Although the work is hard, with diligence, this profession still provides a stable income.

At 10 a.m., Mr. Truong Van Diem (Man Thai ward, Son Tra district) was busy pulling his shrimp traps ashore. Despite the hardship after many hours at sea, he still wore an optimistic smile. “This year, the baby lobsters are abundant, but the selling price is lower than in previous years. Previously, the peak price for juvenile lobsters reached over 200,000 VND/each, but now it ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 VND/each. However, because the yield this year is high, the fishermen's income is quite stable.”

Despite facing weather and market fluctuations, fishermen remain steadfast in their commitment to the profession passed down from their ancestors. Mr. Tran Van Luc, Chairman of the Son Tra District Farmers' Association, stated that the yield of krill and baby shrimp varies depending on the weather, but these two types of seafood remain economically viable for coastal fishermen. While coastal fishing provides a stable income, it requires good health, perseverance, and hard work to sustain the profession. To support struggling fishermen, the association regularly collaborates with relevant agencies to provide essential supplies, fishing gear, and gifts during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

NGOC QUOC - KIM ANH - THAI HUYEN

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202503/ngu-dan-san-loc-bien-ven-bo-4002387/