Binh Chanh Commune, Binh Son District is one of the localities with a strong squid fishing fleet in the Central region, with 165 squid fishing vessels, with a total capacity of nearly 96,000 CV fishing offshore in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds. These days, when coming to My Tan fishing village, Binh Chanh commune, it is easy to see the image of fishermen busy preparing fishing gear, food, and provisions to go out to sea to exploit seafood far from the shore. Fisherman Nguyen Thanh Trung, in My Tan village, a crew member of fishing boat QNg 95073, fishing for sea squid, shared: "Every year, we drift in the waters of Truong Sa and Hoang Sa for more than 9 months to fish for squid. The trip to sea in early 2025, the weather is favorable, so we hope to catch many squid.
Every year, after Tet, squid fishing boat owners in Binh Chanh will organize meetings with fishing friends, encourage them to stick to the sea and choose a good day to go out to sea. Fisherman Nguyen Nang in My Tan village said: In 2024, our boat went out to sea on 3 trips, catching more than 2 tons of dried squid; in which, on the first sea trip in 2024, we caught more than 1.3 tons of dried squid after 3 months of going out to sea. That trip was good for the season but the selling price decreased by 10% compared to last year. Therefore, I hope that this year's sea season will have good seasons and good prices."
According to fishermen in Binh Chanh commune, each squid fishing trip usually takes 2 - 3 months to get to shore once, so each boat has to prepare a lot of fuel, food, and provisions with a total cost of nearly 1 billion VND. In addition, fishermen on the boat each had to buy their own food and drinking water for 40 - 50 million VND. Therefore, on this first trip to sea, each fisherman is determined to exploit seafood effectively.
Mr. Nguyen Van Dao - Chairman of Binh Chanh Commune People's Committee said that in 2024, local fishermen exploited over 4,000 tons of seafood of all kinds, of which dry squid output accounted for more than 95%. The total value is estimated at over 550 billion VND/year. After a year of fishing, boat owners earn 1 - 2 billion VND, and fishing friends earn 300 - 400 million VND.
The offshore squid fishing profession has a high income, so it not only attracts fishermen in Binh Chanh commune but also many fishermen in Binh Dong, Binh Thanh, Binh Duong communes. The fishermen have now fully prepared fishing nets, provisions, and food and started their sea trip at the beginning of the year. In 2025, fishermen in Binh Chanh commune strive to exploit 4,500 - 5,000 tons of seafood of all kinds.
