In the days leading up to the 2026 Lunar New Year, when the streets are bustling with spring colors, every household is busy preparing for Tet, many Gia Lai fishermen are preparing necessities and fishing gear to leave the port, continuing their journey to reach out to sea to earn a living.
At Quy Nhon Fishing Port (Quy Nhon ward, Gia Lai province), a working atmosphere is taking place urgently. On the wharf, the sound of engines roaring, ice is ground and brought down to the ship's hold, food and foodstuffs are urgently transferred to the hold to be ready for departure.
For many fishermen, Tet is a long sea trip, where New Year's Eve comes amidst the vast ocean, and this year they continue to "celebrate Tet" at sea.
Rushing to prepare for the sea trip throughout Tet, 15 crew members on vessel BD 97884 TS each did their own thing: one arranged fishing gear, one supplied ice, necessities... so that the ship could depart on schedule.
In the previous sea trip, vessel BD 97884 TS exploited about 12 tons of skipjack tuna, bringing in a decent income for families. Therefore, this sea trip, all crew members are full of enthusiasm, expecting a sea trip full of shrimp and fish.
Nearly 30 years of making a living at sea, fisherman Phan Van Vinh (47 years old, Hoai Nhon Dong ward, Gia Lai province) said that he has celebrated New Year's Eve many times in the ocean.
On New Year's Eve, fellow shipmen set up simple offering trays with incense, lights, and cakes brought along. After worshiping, they wish each other a smooth new year and then continue their work," Mr. Vinh recounted.
The atmosphere of welcoming Tet in the open sea is also continued by "supply" ships leaving the port right in the days leading up to Tet. Although not directly operating, vessel BD 99118 TS is still urgently completing the preparation stage, with the role of "supplying" ice and necessities for ships clinging to the Truong Sa fishing grounds.
More than 25 years of drifting at sea, Mr. Tran Ngoc Ngon (45 years old, Hoai Nhon Dong ward, Gia Lai province), a crew member of vessel BD 99118 TS, shared that he is too familiar with "celebrating Tet" amidst the vast waves. "The sea profession is like that, fish in season must go," Mr. Ngon confided.
At Tam Quan fishing port (Hoai Nhon Bac ward, Gia Lai province), Mr. Dang Van Dan - Acting Director of the Port - said that about 800 fishing boats have departed to fish throughout the 2026 Lunar New Year.
According to Mr. Dan, in the first sea trip of 2026 (Gregorian calendar - PV), fishermen exploited more than 1,500 tons of tuna, bringing high economic efficiency. Thanks to catching fish, many ships have returned in time to reunite with their families, but also many fishermen continue to stick to the sea, maintaining the pace of labor in the early spring days.
Throughout the traditional Tet holiday, functional forces still maintain 24/24h duty at fishing ports such as De Gi, Tam Quan, Quy Nhon; inspect dossiers, guide departures, remind fishermen to comply with regulations on operating sea areas, maritime safety and prevent and combat illegal exploitation.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung - Deputy Director of Gia Lai Provincial Fishing Ports Authority - said that the unit regularly propagates and guides fishermen not to violate foreign waters, fully record exploitation logbooks, and at the same time trains in using electronic logbooks to ensure compliance with regulations.
According to Mr. Dung, this time is the tuna fishing season, so many boats are taking advantage of going offshore. Sticking to the sea not only ensures livelihoods for fishermen but also contributes to preserving and affirming the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.
