Adverse weather conditions are causing difficulties in fishing and seafood harvesting.

(Baohatinh.vn) - Due to continuous storms and other unfavorable factors affecting production, the seafood catch in Ha Tinh in 2025 only reached 45,010 tons, failing to meet the set plan.

At Cua Sot fishing port (Loc Ha), only a few fishing boats have docked.

Returning to port after 5 days at sea, Mr. Nguyen Van Thai (47 years old, from Son Bang village, Loc Ha commune) and his four fellow fishermen on the HT 90399 TS vessel were quite disappointed. This fishing trip had to be shortened due to rough seas, yielding only about 300 kg of seafood. They sold it at Cua Sot fishing port for 40 million VND, but after deducting production costs, each worker only received about 2 million VND for 5 days of work. This was also the third consecutive unsuccessful fishing trip recently.

Mr. Thai said: “Our boat has a 220 HP engine and fishes about 80-100 nautical miles from shore. Normally, each fishing trip lasts 7-8 days, catching about 5-6 quintals of mackerel and other seafood, worth about 50-60 million VND, with crew members earning 500-700 thousand VND per person per day. But this year, the weather has been unfavorable, especially in the last months of the year, so we often have to shorten the schedule, production is interrupted, and the yield is about 15% lower than in previous years.”

Fishing activity at Cua Sot port is quite sluggish at the moment due to low catch volumes.

It's not just fishermen in Loc Ha who are facing this situation; fishermen in other localities are also experiencing similar hardships. Nguyen Chien Thang, from Tam Hai residential area (Hai Ninh ward), said: “My fishing boat has a 90 HP engine, specializing in longline and net fishing in offshore areas, returning daily, with 3 crew members. This year, besides continuous storms and heavy rain, with the boats basically staying ashore for the last 3 months of the year, the aquatic resources are showing signs of decline, so the total catch has decreased by more than 20% compared to last year.”

During the last months of the year, fishermen in Hai Ninh ward often find themselves with their boats idle and a lack of work.

Successive storms and low-pressure systems are the main reasons for production disruptions, leading to an increase in the number of vessels seeking shelter, a decrease in the number of vessels arriving at and departing from ports, and failure to meet fishing targets. According to statistics, by the end of November 2025, the entire province had 12,632 vessel arrivals at designated anchorages and storm shelters for fishing boats, an increase of over 2% compared to the same period in previous years. Meanwhile, at Cua Sot and Cua Hoi ports, there were only 5,333 vessel arrivals and 5,375 vessel departures, a decrease of approximately 25% compared to the same period.

Fisherman Tran Van Hung from Trung Nghia village (Loc Ha commune) shared: “This year, the work and income of us fishermen have not met our expectations. We hope that the authorities at all levels will have policies to support fishermen, allocate funds for dredging waterways, strengthen fishing management, and protect fishing grounds…”

Continuous storms have forced fishermen from Hai Phong 1 and Hai Phong 2 hamlets (Vung Ang ward) to sit at the docks, hoping for a day when the weather calms down and the sea is still.

Mr. Than Quoc Te, Deputy Director of the Management Board of Fishing Ports and Storm Shelters for Fishing Vessels in Ha Tinh, informed: "By the end of November 2025, the total seafood output through the ports under our management was 933 tons, only about 75% compared to the same period last year. Besides weather factors, other reasons for the decline in catch include: siltation in waterways making it difficult for large vessels to enter and exit; increased inspections of documents and equipment by authorities, and resolute handling of violations, leading to some fishing vessels that do not meet the requirements having to temporarily suspend production; fluctuating prices of supplies and necessities for production, increasing the cost of each fishing trip; labor shortage; and 91% of vessels under 12 meters, with small capacity, fishing near the shore, and low yields…”

Mr. Tran Van Hung (second from left) and his fellow fishermen are busy mending nets, waiting for a favorable time to resume production.

According to a report by the Fisheries Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment), in 2025, Ha Tinh province had 3,980 registered fishing vessels; of which 71 vessels operated in offshore areas (over 15m long), 273 vessels operated in inshore areas (12-15m long), and 3,636 vessels operated in coastal areas (6-12m long). Although fishermen throughout the province have persevered and adapted to fishing, due to many subjective and objective factors, the total seafood catch this year is estimated at only 45,010 tons, equivalent to 78% of the annual plan (over 57,700 tons).

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/thoi-tiet-bat-loi-khai-thac-thuy-hai-san-gap-kho-post300863.html