Logistics boats help fishermen

Offshore fishing boats operate in Hoa Binh District, southern province of Bac Lieu. Logistics boats provide them with necessary support. — VNA/VNS Photo Huynh Su

BAC LIEU — Fishermen in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta coastal province of Bac Lieu are supported by logistics boats that provide them with fuel and other necessary support.

The offshore logistics boats have been operating with the fishermen units for the last three years as part of the province's policy.

Without such teamwork and support, fishermen far offshore would find it difficult to have good yields and make a decent profit.

The expenses for working out at sea have also increased recently.

By setting up logistics teams, which are responsible for supplying fuel and transporting seafood between fishing grounds and the coast, each fishing boat saves VND15-VND20 million for each trip out to sea.

With such coordination, the fishing boats can also stay longer at sea.

Prior to the province's policy on teamwork, fishing boats could operate only 15 to 20 days at sea as all fuel, food and ice were used up after that period of time.

Now the boats can fish for 30 to 40 days offshore.

Ho Ngoc Thuan, owner of four boats at Bac Lieu's Nha Mat Ward, said fishing offshore was a difficult job that sometimes ended in accidents.

He said that, previously, there was no coordination and their profits were low.

Duong Van Ngoan, a border guard in Nha Mat Ward, said the fishermen's association had proved effective.

More than 90 per cent of boats in the locality now operate frequently and there are fewer idle boats on land.

Bac Lieu has more than 1,200 fishing boats, yielding an annual fishing capacity of 100,000 tonnes of fish.

The province set the annual fishing growth rate at 14 per cent between 2012 and 2015. That figure is expected to bring the province US$240-US$300 million in export turnover. — VNS