Fishermen in Thanh Hoa province have a successful fishing season catching northern fish.

Fishing is the livelihood and source of income for fishermen in many coastal provinces and cities, including those in the coastal districts, towns, and cities of Thanh Hoa province. Each year, they venture out to sea during two main fishing seasons: the northern fishing season and the southern fishing season, alternating according to the changing natural cycle and the migratory habits of different fish species. This division not only makes fishing more efficient but also contributes to the protection of marine resources and the preservation of the abundance of the ocean.

Fishermen in Hoang Truong commune (Hoang Hoa district) are delighted with a bountiful harvest of "sea bounty" after their fishing trips in the northern fishing season.

According to local fishermen, the northern fishing season lasts from October of the previous year to March of the following year. Due to the influence of the Northeast monsoon, sea water temperatures decrease, so fishermen mainly go out to sea during this season to catch seafood such as mackerel, scad, herring, squid, and shrimp in the area from Quang Binh northward. Meanwhile, the southern fishing season takes place from April to September, when the weather is more stable, creating favorable conditions for many seafood species, such as tuna, anchovies, pomfret, cuttlefish, and lobster, to thrive in the sea area from Quang Binh southward.

Arriving at Hoang Truong Fishing Port (Hoang Hoa District) on a late March morning, as the northeast monsoon gradually weakened, giving way to gentle spring sunshine filtering across the sea, the atmosphere was more bustling and lively than ever. Boats lined up, returning after arduous voyages, their holds overflowing with shrimp and fish, carrying the joy of fishermen returning from conquering the ocean, signaling a bountiful fishing season. After 10 days at sea, 100 nautical miles from shore, the vessel TH-91125, belonging to fisherman Le Van Thanh from Thanh Xuan village, Hoang Truong commune, docked, bringing a catch of 4 tons of anchovies and other seafood. It is estimated that this trip brought in nearly 200 million VND, ensuring income for the 11 crew members, with an average income of 14 million VND per person. Unable to hide his excitement, Mr. Le Van Tuan, a crew member on the ship, shared: "This year's northern fishing season, despite unfavorable weather and murky seawater, can still yield a good catch if you know how to choose the right fishing grounds and adjust your fishing methods accordingly. The important thing is not to lose heart and to always be ready to adapt to the weather to find large schools of fish. We only hope for favorable weather so that we can have more bountiful fishing seasons and a less difficult life."

Many types of fish are transported from the boats to the shore for traders to select and purchase at Hoang Truong Fishing Port (Hoang Hoa).

In other coastal areas of Thanh Hoa province, such as Nga Son, Hau Loc, Hoang Hoa, Quang Xuong, Nghi Son town and Sam Son city, fishermen are also excited and happy because of the bumper harvest of northern fish.

In late March, along the Lach Bang fishing port in Hai Binh ward (Nghi Son town), boats laden with shrimp and fish docked one after another after days of fishing at sea. The area was bustling with the sounds of people calling out to each other, the roar of boat engines, and the lively atmosphere of buying and transporting shrimp and fish. Hai Binh ward currently has 176 fishing vessels. Of these, about 50 are involved in purchasing and selling seafood at sea, while the rest are fishing vessels. The number of people directly working at sea ranges from 900 to 1,100. Throughout the past season, many boats busily entered and left the port, transporting abundant catches, bringing in a significant income for the fishermen. Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Binh ward, said: "This year's northern fishing season, the total catch of boats in Hai Binh reached over 900 tons, bringing in about 5 billion VND for the fishermen."

Even though the fishing season is nearing its end, fishermen are still taking advantage of calm seas to venture out to sea, searching for their last catches before taking a break to repair their boats and prepare for the next southern fishing season. Boats laden with fish continuously dock, and the port remains bustling with traders buying catch and fishermen busily untangling nets and sorting seafood. Overall, despite occasional unfavorable weather, thanks to their experience and perseverance, the fishermen have had a relatively successful season. Hopefully, the upcoming southern fishing season will continue to bring bountiful catches, further improving the lives of the fishermen.

I met fisherman Le Van Nho on his fishing boat, numbered TH-97077, which had just returned to Lach Bang fishing port after its last trip of the season. Through conversation, I learned that each trip lasts about 14 days, navigating through resource-rich fishing grounds to find large schools of fish. This year's northern fishing season has been quite favorable, with few storms, making fishing easier. "Thanks to God's blessing, we fishermen have caught many large schools of fish, bringing in high income. Each trip, we harvest about 40 tons of seafood, mainly anchovies, shrimp, and squid," Mr. Nho happily stated.

As soon as the boats dock, traders are already waiting to buy the freshest and best-quality fish. Anchovies are purchased at the port for 12,000 VND/kg, then transported to the city and many other provinces and cities nationwide for consumption. Some seafood processing facility owners also wait at the dock to buy the freshest anchovies. In addition, high-value seafood such as shrimp and squid are sold at wholesale markets or exported.

Traders were waiting at the port to buy the freshest and best catches of fish, shrimp, and squid.

Besides bringing economic value, the northern fishing season also instills confidence and motivation in fishermen. "After each trip out to sea, each boat can bring in up to hundreds of millions of dong, and the crew members can also receive a stable income to ensure the livelihood of their families. We see this as a good sign, signaling a bountiful fishing year, giving fishermen more motivation to venture further out to sea. When the northern fishing season ends, fishermen are busy maintaining their boats, preparing their nets and equipment, and waiting for the upcoming southern fishing season with many new expectations," Mr. Nho added.

The province currently has 6,635 fishing vessels at sea. During the northern fishing season, the province harvested 69,809 tons, including 67,443 tons from domestic fishing and 2,366 tons from inland fishing. In 2025, the province aims to achieve a seafood production of 143,600 tons, with a production value of 4,218 billion VND. To achieve this goal, the Fisheries Sub-Department will continue to guide and effectively implement the central and provincial fisheries development policies, and reorganize the structure of marine fishing to limit trawling and gillnet fishing, and develop selective, environmentally friendly fishing methods. Simultaneously, it will develop offshore fishing, linked to the protection of maritime security and sovereignty. Furthermore, continue to develop and expand cooperative groups, cooperatives, co-management groups, and models of fisheries exploitation combined with ecotourism, culinary experiences, and entertainment... to create added value. Mobilize diverse resources, especially from businesses and social contributions, to invest in upgrading fisheries infrastructure, meeting the requirements for controlling fishing vessels entering and leaving ports and monitoring the volume of seafood unloaded at ports in accordance with regulations.

Following the fishing trips, the lives of fishermen begin. Even now, fishermen in coastal areas of the province are busy preparing for the southern fishing season. Boats are meticulously inspected and maintained, fishing gear is repaired, and crew members take advantage of breaks to rest and update information on potential fishing grounds. Many fishermen are also boldly investing in modern equipment to improve fishing efficiency. Everyone is placing their hopes on the southern fishing season – a season of abundant catches such as tuna, mackerel, snapper, cuttlefish, and lobster.

Fishing, as a means of livelihood, has become a source of pride for countless generations of fishermen in Thanh Hoa. Each fishing trip not only brings income but also affirms the resilience and perseverance of those who depend on the sea. And the spirit of venturing out to sea remains the aspiration of every fisherman, on every boat, carrying the hope of bountiful catches.

Lan Chinh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ngu-dan-thanh-hoa-trung-vu-ca-bac-244819.htm