Cua Dai, also known as Cua Co Luy, where the Tra Khuc River and Phu Tho River flow into the East Sea, is an important estuary in Quang Ngai City. This is where fishermen's boats in An Phu commune, Quang Ngai city often go out to sea to catch seafood. However, since 2015, this estuary has been frequently eroded and silted, narrowing the channel and gradually becoming dry, making it difficult for ships to enter and exit.
According to fishermen, this situation has seriously affected the gout after the Lunar New Year 2025. Many fishermen in Quang Ngai City are currently unable to go to sea because they are worried that their boats will be stranded. The reason is that the estuary is filled with silt, causing the water level when the tide rises to only reach about 2m in the deepest area and about 1.5m in the most shallow area.
Mr. Vo Khanh, Vice Chairman of An Phu Commune People's Committee, said: "About 150 local fishing vessels cannot go to sea because the estuary is filled with silt. Previously, fishermen in An Phu commune were doing business very effectively. However, currently, large fishing vessels cannot enter or exit easily due to concerns about being stuck. Small fishing boats can enter and exit, but only when the tide rises. This has caused difficulties for fishing logistics services and forced seafood processing units to close due to lack of raw materials."
The frequent silting of the estuary has narrowed the channel, causing water to dry up, especially for large-capacity fishing vessels. Mr. Pham Van Hung, a fisherman in An Phu commune, shared: "About 10 years ago, this estuary began to narrow due to sand filling. If you take a risk to let the boat go in and out of the gate, the boat will easily break its duck leg. Currently, the lowest water level is only at the knees, the highest is only at the navel, making fishermen afraid of having their boats stranded."
According to records, the Cua Dai estuary area has been filled with silt from the estuary to the West for about 2km. Cua Dai channel was seriously flooded with a length of up to 2km and showed signs of continuing to widen to the Southwest, causing the last 100m of the estuary to be completely flooded.
Mr. Vo Khanh said that the commune government has mobilized fishermen to monitor the high tide situation. In the immediate future, fishermen are encouraged to move fishing boats to neighboring fishing ports to anchor, wait for the tide to rise before going to sea.
"The commune government has recommended that all levels and sectors create conditions for dredging in areas with silt and clearing water flows. In the long term, we also propose to implement phase 2 of the storm shelter area project combined with Co Luy fishing port to completely solve the situation of filling, Mr. Khanh added.
