Patching up the knots, mending life.

In a 240m2 workshop, more than 50 women in the Vam Ray hamlet's net-mending team in Binh Son commune are diligently repairing thousands of damaged fishing nets after long fishing trips. This work contributes to job creation and increases income for women in coastal areas, especially elderly women.

Members of the Vam Ray hamlet's rice patching team work together at the workshop. Photo: HUYNH ANH

After offshore fishing trips, every boat has torn fishing nets, to varying degrees, so boat owners often hire people to mend them. From that, net mending became a livelihood for many people in the hamlet. However, they worked without a fixed location and on an irregular basis. Gradually, the Vam Ray Hamlet Net Mending Team was formed, led by Ms. Huynh Thi Diep. She shared: “To make things convenient for boat owners and provide stable employment for the women, I took the initiative to connect skilled women to form the team. At the same time, I coordinated with boat owners to collect their nets when they returned to shore; rented land to create a staging area for boats to easily anchor and load/unload nets; and everyone focused on working efficiently, on schedule, and with stable income.”

The fishing net patching team not only promotes mutual support and solidarity, helping each other develop economically, but also meets the logistical needs of the local fishing industry. Members typically work from 7 am to 3 pm each day. Patching is divided into two stages: patching and inspection. If anything is missing, it is patched again; if the rim is broken, it is replaced; if the rope is severed, it is reconnected. This is an easy skill to learn and do. Those who know how guide those who don't, and practice makes perfect. However, to become a skilled worker who is regularly contacted by boat owners, the worker must have a keen eye, meticulousness, and sharpness in every patching stroke. To patch a fishing boat (2,000-2,700 nets), the team needs 10-15 days. The average wage is 180,000 VND per person per day. Because wages are paid on a daily basis, the members always maintain a high sense of responsibility, supporting each other to complete tasks quickly and deliver the catch to the boat owner on time, thus maintaining long-term business relationships.

The job of mending fishing nets solves the problem of unemployment, contributing to poverty reduction in the locality. Thanks to this profession, many women have jobs and stable incomes, without having to work far from home. Ms. Truong Thi Lieu, a member of the Vam Ray Hamlet Fishing Net Repair Team, shared: “Previously, I worked as a net repairer, only coming when boat owners needed me, but the work wasn't regular. My husband went to sea, and I stayed home to do housework, so I had a lot of free time. For the past four years, joining the fishing net repair team has given me more stable and regular work, earning over 5 million VND per month, which helps cover living expenses.” For Ms. Vo Thi Sang (74 years old), the oldest member of the team, this job provides her main source of income. Ms. Sang said: "I've been involved in net mending for over 30 years, and now I mend fishing traps. Mending traps not only helps me earn money to support myself and take care of my sick son, but it's also a place where I can meet people and share the joys and sorrows of life."

Currently, Binh Son commune has over 200 fishing vessels and nearly 1,000 regular workers. Recently, fishing and aquaculture activities have developed strongly, leading to an increasing demand for labor. Along with the development of fishing, aquaculture, and fisheries activities, the development of fisheries logistics services is becoming one of the important factors promoting the robust development of the fisheries economy.

HUYNH ANH - NGOC HOA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/va-lu-va-lanh-cuoc-song-a462046.html