A fisherman anchors his boat ashore as he is unable to head out to sea. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG TRỊ — At the mouth of the Dinh River, the usual rhythm of the fishing season has ground to a halt, leaving hundreds of boats idle and nets untouched.

On most March mornings, vessels from Nam Trạch Commune would head out to sea at first light. Now they sit in long rows along the riverbank, engines silent, as a build-up of sand has blocked the river mouth since the Lunar New Year.

For local fishermen, the timing could hardly be worse. This is typically one of the most productive periods, when fish and squid are plentiful and even short overnight trips can bring in earnings of VNĐ10 million to VNĐ20 million (US$380-$760).

“It’s frustrating just sitting here looking at the sea. If the conditions are good, one trip can earn VNĐ10 million to VNĐ20 million đồng ($380-$760). But since Tết, we’ve basically been stuck,” said Nguyễn Lãm, a local fisherman.

The sand has formed a wide barrier across the channel, too shallow for boats to pass. Some crews have tried to slip out at high tide, staying up through the night in the hope that rising water might carry them over, but these attempts rarely succeed.

“Sometimes we have to get more people to push and pull the boat. Even then, some boats run aground halfway and are hit by waves. We’ve had boats damaged, gear washed away,” Lãm said.

One such attempt ended badly on March 16, when a fishing boat capsized near the river mouth after being struck by waves. No one was hurt, but the crew lost all their equipment.

Smaller boats, which make up most of the fleet, have little room to manoeuvre, while larger vessels have been able to relocate to nearby areas such as Đồng Hới. Smaller boats, however, remain effectively trapped.

Every day, fisherman Phạm Diên walks down to check on his boat, tightening ropes and ensuring everything remains in place.

“We’re all waiting for the river mouth to be cleared,” he said.

The Dinh River mouth, about 300 metres wide, has long been the community’s main route to the sea. Siltation occurs from time to time, but previous dredging kept the channel open.

This time, the scale is different. Local officials say shifting currents and wave patterns since late 2025 have created a sandbar stretching more than 500 metres across and up to 150 metres wide, far beyond what residents can deal with themselves.

The sandbar blocking the mouth of the Dinh River. — VNA/VNS Photo

Authorities have urged fishermen to exercise caution and, where possible, consider moving their boats to other nearby river mouths.

In the short term, officials say some dredging may be carried out to improve water flow. Longer-term solutions, such as embankments or new channels, are under consideration but would require support from provincial and central authorities.

Some fishermen have even proposed abandoning the blocked channel entirely and opening a new route that follows the river’s natural course.

For now, however, the boats remain where they are: lined up along the river, within sight of the open sea, yet unable to reach it. — VNS