Kien Giang fishermen hope for a prosperous year-end after poor early catches

Local fishing boat owners and agriculture officials attribute the reduced yields to adverse weather conditions, which forced boats to remain docked for long periods to avoid storms. Additionally, diminishing fish and shrimp stocks in traditional fishing areas have resulted in lower catches.

Nguyen Van Dung, a seasoned fisherman and owner of two offshore fishing vessels in Binh An commune, Kien Luong district, shared that his boats caught approximately 40 tons of fish and shrimp this year, a drop of over 5 tons from previous years. “The reduced catch, coupled with declining prices for species like croaker, mackerel, shrimp, and squid, has significantly impacted income,” he said.

Dung explained that each of his boats supports over 20 crew members, and lower profits have directly affected their earnings. “In the past, a one-month trip could bring in about 3 tons of seafood worth VND 250 million, with a net profit of VND 120 million. Crew members would earn around VND 10 million per trip. This year, with fewer fishing months and a reduced catch of 2.5 tons per trip, profits have dropped to under VND 80 million, and crew members are making just VND 6 million per month. We’re counting on calmer seas in the year’s final months to make up for these losses.”

Similarly, Nguyen Cao Tuong, a vessel owner from Chau Thanh district, highlighted challenges his family has faced with their four boats engaged in squid fishing and pair trawling. He noted that the vessels had to remain docked during seven stormy periods, totaling over two months, which has significantly reduced the catch. “After each 40-day fishing trip, profits are only around VND 30 million, and crew members earn between VND 10-15 million. This represents a 30% drop in income compared to previous years,” he explained.

Tuong also acknowledged improvements in compliance with regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. “Authorities have conducted regular meetings, distributed educational materials, and carried out inspections of tracking devices, fishing equipment, and permits. These efforts have helped us fully comply with the rules,” he said. “We all hope the EU will lift the IUU ‘yellow card’ soon, as it will revitalize seafood exports and improve economic returns.”

Le Huu Toan, Director of Kien Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that the province’s seafood yield has met 90% of the annual target but still fell short by 11,000 tons compared to 2023.

To improve productivity, Toan emphasized plans to enhance training and adopt advanced fishing technologies such as mixed gillnets, light-equipped purse seines, and multi-layered gillnets for offshore fishing. He also mentioned the use of traps for squid, snails, and crabs, as well as modern methods like satellite-based fish detection and acoustic devices for tracking fish behavior.

“Modernizing fishing practices not only increases efficiency but also helps preserve marine resources, supporting the sustainable development of the industry,” Toan concluded.

VFM