Back to the resilient fishing port on the eve of Tet

Near Tet, arriving at Sa Ky port, after a month drifting in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, ships docked one after another. The fishing port was cheerful with holds full of seafood.

The boats returned full of fish - Photo: TM

Sa Ky Port (Binh Chau Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province) is where generations of fishermen from Binh Chau and Ly Son set sail straight to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. During the days before Tet, listening to stories about the sea from fishermen returning from the mother sea is truly heartwarming.

Full fish hold, fishermen have a full Tet

Waiting at Sa Ky port, we saw fishing boat QNg 90252 cutting through the waves and approaching the port. Captain Vo Dung (Binh Chau commune, Binh Son district) saw us as if meeting an old friend, waved goodbye and happily said "this sea trip is fine".

A lifetime of sailing the open seas, he has encountered many disasters on the sacred Hoang Sa archipelago of the fatherland. Once, Captain Dung returned with a "torn" ship. However, he has never left the two main fishing grounds of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

On this trip, Mr. Dung commanded the ship to fish around the islands in Truong Sa. After more than a month, the ship landed with about 10 tons of various types of fish.

"This time the weather is unfavorable so fishing is more difficult. Luckily we have experience so we can catch quite a lot. Tuna and mackerel are the most expensive fish to sell for this time.

Before reaching the shore, the traders called to ask and sent a truck to weigh and transport the goods in time to sell for Tet," Captain Dung confided.

As a hard-to-break habit, Mr. Dung continuously told us about the islands and the situation at sea. He also told us about "sensitive" stories and the efforts of the country's law enforcement forces to help fishermen feel secure while fishing.

After selling all the fish, Captain Dung quickly divided the money among the fishermen on the boat, each receiving 7-10 million VND, basically enough for Tet shopping. Saying goodbye to his crew, Captain Dung shouted, "Have a happy Tet everyone, we'll be back on the 6th of Tet."

As soon as the ship arrives at the port, refrigerated trucks are immediately there to transport the fish for consumption - Photo: TM

The last day of the year, the cold air has returned, the bitter wind still cannot stop the smiles at the port. Captain of fishing boat QNg 90695 Nguyen Thuong also brought his boat to port. After nearly a month of fishing in the Hoang Sa fishing grounds, Mr. Thuong's boat caught a lot of tuna.

The hold was overturned, filled with more than 30 tons of tuna. This experienced fisherman estimated that selling all of these fish would bring in about 650 million VND. After deducting the cost of the trip, each fisherman would receive 12 million VND.

Mr. Thuong said that in the last days of the year, the Hoang Sa sea area has "stable waves and stable people" and fishing is very favorable. The sea is kind to the fishermen, so it continuously catches several large fish, and the boats return to shore in time for the fishermen to celebrate Tet with their families.

Mr. Thuong has not yet considered the trip after Tet. This year, the ship is operating continuously, he plans to let everyone rest longer than usual, and after the full moon of January, they will return to sea. The only thing he is sure of is that he will go back to Hoang Sa to fish.

"There are many waves there, lots of fish and shrimp. We just stick to the sovereign waters of the fishing country. I measure very carefully, comply with the state's regulations, and do not cross or encroach on the waters of other countries," Captain Thuong said clearly.

Full hold of fish, Quang Ngai fishermen have a full Tet - Photo: TM

Nearshore ships also hit big, the whole sea area celebrated Tet happily

At the end of the year, Tet comes, the purchasing power is stronger than usual. The price of fish and shrimp is also higher. Currently, flying fish is sold at the port from 50,000 - 80,000 VND/kg; tuna 80,000 - 120,000 VND/kg; mackerel 20,000 - 35,000 VND/kg...

This price is 15-20% higher than usual. This further encourages fishermen to stay at sea and go fishing. Not only offshore fishing boats, but also nearshore fishing boats have a joyful end of the year.

Across the river from Sa Ky port is Tinh Ky fishing port (Tinh Ky commune, Quang Ngai city). Boats "leave in the afternoon and return in the morning" are also full of mackerel and anchovies after just one night of fishing.

Fisherman Huynh Tan Hung (Tinh Ky commune), owner of fishing boat QNg 11195, had several consecutive big catches at sea in the last days of the year. This morning, the boat brought back 5 tons of anchovies. After deducting all expenses, each fisherman received 2-3 million VND.

"Every boat catches anchovies, anchovies follow the currents, this season they are found by probing," said fisherman Hung. The current price of anchovies is 12,000 - 16,000 VND/kg, although lower than the price of other types of fish, but the big catch also "compensates" and brings high income.

Women who do the work of sorting and loading fish onto trucks also have high incomes at the end of the year - Photo: TM

Joy is often spread, not only the ship owners, captains, fishermen are happy but the women who stay at the port to make a living at the end of the year are also full of smiles. With a lot of fish coming in, the women work continuously, so their income is also higher than usual.

Ms. Phuoc, who has worked at the port all her life sorting fish, smiled happily when talking about the last days of the year. Her husband, also a fisherman, returned from the sea 4 days ago. With a stable income, he bought food and flowers for Tet decorations on her behalf.

Ms. Phuoc still sticks to the port because ships come in continuously. "At the end of the year, each day working at the port brings in an income of 450,000 - 500,000 VND. So not only me but many women try to work. On the evening of the 29th of Tet, I will take a break, go home to cook the ancestral altar and celebrate Tet with my family," Ms. Phuoc confided.

At Sa Ky seaport, resilient fishermen return to celebrate Tet with their families one by one. They will return to the open sea after Tet - Photo: TM

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Fisheries Union of Binh Chau Commune, is like a "village leader". He has been with the fishermen for many years. He is one of the first to receive information about any incident at sea. Therefore, when he hears fishermen continuously report successful fishing trips, he is extremely happy.

"Every ship has a good catch, so Tet is a happy one. At this rate, the first sea festival of the year will be very exciting. What I'm most happy about is that the sea is peaceful, there are no incidents, and people can fish safely," said Mr. Hung.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ve-cang-ca-kien-cuong-ngay-giap-tet-20250128131930981.htm