HCM CITY – Fishermen in the central region have seen bumper catches and big profits during Tết (the Lunar New Year).

In Khánh Hòa Province, many boats that fished offshore during Tết have returned filled with fish.

Đào Phước Hùng, who docked at the Hòn Rớ Fishing Port in Nha Trang city on Monday (February 19), said he caught 10 tonnes of fish, mostly yellow tuna and mackerel, during a 12-day trip to Trường Sa (Spratly Islands).

Every man on the boat got an income of VNĐ10 million (US$440), he said.

Fishes like tuna and mackerel fetch high prices during Tết, according to the Hòn Rớ Fishing Port Management Board.

Traders buy striped tuna at a price of VNĐ140,000 – 150,000 a kilogramme and mackerel at VNĐ300,000 – 320,000.

On Monday many fishing boats in Nha Trang returned to fish off-shore after Tết.

Phan Thanh Tòng of Nha Trang said he decided to begin his fishing trip on the auspicious fourth day of the new year.

“We will fish for about 20 days on this trip.”

In Quảng Bình Province, fishermen who went on a one-day trip after Tết have also had good catches because of the favourable weather.  

Hồ Văn Sáu of Đức Trạch Commune in Bố Trạch District caught 70 kilogrammes of herring five nautical miles off the shore between 3am and 8am on Sunday.

He earned a profit of nearly VNĐ4 million ($170) from the trip.

“I am glad the first fishing trip after Tết saw a good catch.”

Fresh herring is in great demand during Tết that traders were willing to pay VNĐ50,000 – 100,000 per kilogramme this year, 20-30 per cent higher than on normal days, local fishermen said.  

In Quảng Trị Province, nearly 100 boats that fished around Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands during Tết returned with good catches.

They said they caught between 400 kilogrammes and one tonne of mostly mackerel and earned profits of VNĐ100-300 million from a trip lasting just a few days.

Elsewhere, fishermen who fished near shore in Vĩnh Thái Commune in Quảng Trị’s Vĩnh Linh District got bumper catches of cuttlefish after going fishing on the second day of the new year.

Ngô Thế Thanh, chairman of the Vĩnh Thái Commune People’s Committee, said some resumed fishing on Tết though most began the day after.

This year most boats got good catches during their first trip, earning VNĐ1-3 million per night, he said. — VNS