Trawlers operating cause seafood scarcity
Just returning from sea, anchored at the storm shelter area of Cua Sot, Loc Ha commune, fisherman Nguyen Van Long (65 years old, residing in Hoa Thanh village, Loc Ha commune) shared that currently fishermen's lives are very difficult due to high oil prices, high costs, while fishing output is low.
The reason for low output, according to Mr. Long, is that many trawlers are fishing near the shore, so seafood resources have decreased sharply, with the risk of depletion. "We buy coconut leaves to transport to sea to make salanganes to attract seafood to shelter for effective fishing, but trawlers pass by and sweep away the salanganes, so many times we are very upset but can't do anything to them" - fisherman Nguyen Van Long angrily said.
Similarly, fisherman Vo Dinh Hoa (64 years old, residing in Son Bang village, Loc Ha commune) also complained that every time he goes to sea, he encounters trawlers from other provinces and even strange ships (suspected of being foreign ships) fishing in the wrong sea area according to regulations and using prohibited fishing gear to fish destructively, reducing seafood resources and affecting the income of local fishermen.
My boat has 5 people on each trip to sea. Previously, after each trip minus expenses, each person earned a few million VND. Recently, expenses have increased due to high oil prices, while fishing grounds are difficult and seafood is scarce, so after each 5-day trip at sea, each person only earns more than 1 million VND, it's hard and dangerous, but the income is too low" - fisherman Vo Dinh Hoa complained.
According to fisherman Vo Dinh Hoa, functional forces need to strengthen patrols, inspections, and strictly handle trawlers fishing in violation of regulations to regenerate aquatic resources, helping local fishermen live on the profession.
Continue to strengthen patrols and handling
Mr. Nguyen Trong Nhat - Deputy Head of Ha Tinh Fisheries Sub-Department - said that the work of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) seafood exploitation in recent years has been strengthened by functional forces. Thanks to that, the number of large trawlers fishing illegally has decreased, however, it has not yet been thoroughly handled.
According to Mr. Nhat, recently the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development received feedback from fishermen about the situation of trawlers in and outside the province operating in Ha Tinh waters. Immediately after that, coastal border posts coordinated with commune police forces and fisheries surveillance forces to patrol and handle. However, due to the thin force and large sea, when they arrived at the trawlers, they fled or hid fishing gear, so there was no evidence to arrest and handle them.
Currently, functional forces are strengthening the control of fishing vessels right at the port to achieve greater efficiency. It is believed that in the coming time, the situation of trawlers illegally fishing in Ha Tinh waters will be reduced" - Mr. Nguyen Trong Nhat shared.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ha Tinh province, in May 2026, the Border Guard force organized 11 patrols and inspections at sea; 52 patrols and inspections at river mouths, estuary, fishing ports; 72 patrols and inspections in seaport waters. Through patrols and inspections, 3 cases, 5 vehicles, 6 violators were detected and handled, and administrative fines of 12 million VND were imposed.
The report of the Ha Tinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also affirmed that although functional forces have strengthened patrols and controls of fishing activities at sea, there is still a situation where some fishing vessels violate regulations when fishing.
