Fishermen at Quy Nhơn fishing port in Bình Định Province's Quy Nhơn City rush to load necessities for fishing trips in the last days of the lunar year. — VNA/VNS Photo Tường Quân

BÌNH ĐỊNH — The weather is favourable with the sea smooth and gentle, and fishermen in the central coastal province of Bình Định are rushing to prepare for their last fishing trips of the lunar year.

Many of them will celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year) on boats but they are still excited, hoping for nets full of fish.

At Quy Nhơn fishing port, fishermen are busy loading their boats with rice, fresh water, vegetables, pork, chicken and duck, bánh chưng (square glutinous rice cake), soft drinks and confectionery to welcome Tết (Lunar New Year) at sea.

The fishermen also bring new fishing gear and equipment, and fill up tanks with more ice to freeze fish on the ship.

They are well prepared for going out to sea in Trường Sa (Spratlys) waters to catch tuna.

Đỗ Văn Tùng, captain of a fishing boat BĐ96991 in Quy Nhơn City, said: “Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has badly affected the fishing job. We fishermen fell into difficulties,” Tùng said.

“The cost of necessities is high while the selling price of seafood was lower so the economic efficiency of fishing was small.” 

Therefore, with the pandemic controlled, the end of the lunar year is the most suitable time for fishermen to go out to sea, the captain said.

“This sailing trip could last until the first days of the Lunar New Year but the fishermen are so happy and excited, and ready to welcome Tết away from home,” he said.

Đỗ Văn Đức, a fishing boat owner and his five fishermen in Hoài Nhơn Township, who just docked at Quy Nhơn Fishing Port to sell fish, have rushed to buy necessities to continue sailing.

Đức said the trip would last for 15 days and they would return on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Although they have to go out to sea during Tết, the fishermen are excited as fishing at this time often brings a large quantity of seafood, bringing high income for fishermen.

“We are also proud of our contribution to maintaining the fishing grounds and protecting the sea of our homeland,” said Đức.

Đặng Văn Bạn, a fisherman in Hoài Nhơn Township, is used to celebrating Tết at sea. This is his 30th fishing trip during Lunar New Year.

Bạn said that last year, COVID-19 along with storms and floods made boats unable to set sail that caused many difficulties for fishermen.

“Currently, the weather is favourable and the disease had been controlled, so the year-end sea trip is an opportunity for fishermen to earn money,” he said. “My family was poor so I rarely celebrated Tết with family because I often chose to go fishing.”

“I just think that earning money for my family is much more important than enjoying Tết at home."

According to Quy Nhơn fishing port authority, in previous days many ships have docked with a full load of fish and shrimp, and even large catches of tuna.

This is a good sign after a difficult year affected by COVID-19, leaving many fishermen more hopeful for the year-end sailing trips.

Director of the fishing port management board of Bình Định Province Đào Xuân Thiện said there would be 140 fishing boats sailing on Trường Sa water at the end of the lunar year.

The management board had instructed fishermen on safety measures and pandemic prevention. — VNS