Before sunrise, Tinh Hoa Fishing Port in Dong Son commune, Quang Ngai province, was already alive with activity. The hum of engines and the quick footfall of fishermen and traders filled the air in the days ahead of Tet.

A 800CV boat owned by Nguyen Trung Thanh, a resident of Dong Son commune, was returning from the sea. The boat quickly docked to unload its catch after more than 20 days in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) fishing ground. The trip brought back over six tons of mixed seafood.

“It’s a relief that the crew returned safely. We hope the next trip will be more successful, so the crew can earn more to support their livelihoods,” said Thanh.

On shore, buying and selling activities were brisk. As soon as the fish were unloaded, they were weighed, sorted, and loaded directly onto trucks. Boxes of fresh fish were stacked one after another and transported out of the port to wholesale markets.

While numerous boats were returning to port, many others were prepared for their departure on the final voyage of the year. Fishermen were urgently loading ice, fuel, and daily necessities with the hope of a bountiful catch to earn good income and to return home in time for family reunions during Lunar New Year Festival. 

Ngo Van Cuong, 52, from Duc Pho ward, Quang Ngai province, is the owner of a fishing vessel. Before departure, he personally checks every item on board. It takes him normally 15 to 16 days to reach the Truong Sa (Spratly) fishing ground. To ensure safety and efficiency on the long journey, he carefully inspected the vessel monitoring system to make sure it operates continuously.

“The boat is fully equipped with vessel monitoring devices," said Cuong. "We always have two tracking systems on board, just to be sure. If the signal is lost for even one or two hours, it can cause serious difficulties. We have to maintain connectivity around the clock.”

Border guard officers at the Cua Viet port border gate present national flags to fishermen ahead of departure. (Photo: Vinh Thong/VOV-Central region)

Thanks to favorable weather these days, one vessel after another was heading out to sea from Cua Viet Fishing Port. Fishermen say that for effective and sustainable work, compliance with regulations remains a top priority, especially in preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Pham Van Bay, a fishing boat owner, said, “For this year end voyage, fishermen hope to achieve high efficiency. At the same time, we strictly follow regulations on IUU fishing, so Vietnam can soon have the EC yellow card lifted.”

Fisherman Le Ba Hoa told VOV that compliance remains key. “Our fishing vessels always operate in accordance with State regulations and do not encroach on foreign waters. For this year end trip, we hope to achieve the catch targets set for the fleet,” Hoa noted. 

Border guards brief fishermen on measures to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. (Photo: Vinh Thong/VOV-Central region)

Local authorities are working on long term strategies to maximize the advantages of the marine economy and create sustainable livelihoods for local residents. Le Van Thong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cua Viet commune, said, “We are focusing on building action programs and specific projects to comprehensively develop the marine economy. In particular, we are prioritizing fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, and building local seafood product brands, which are linked with trade and marine tourism.”

Fishing boats from Cua Viet commune in Quang Tri province head out to sea for the year-end fishing season. (Photo: Vinh Thong/VOV-Central region)

For the fishermen, venturing out to sea is a means of livelihood and also a duty to assert national sovereignty at sea. Each hold overflowing with fish carries the salty taste of the sea and the sweetness of impending reunion as Tet draws near.