Since its establishment in 2005, the Fishery Logistics Service Centre (FLSC) on Da Tay Island has actively supported the fishermen living there and contributed to both economic development and sovereignty protection in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Around 22 nautical miles from Truong Sa Island, Da Tay is a tidal cay surrounded by coral and a sand bay that provides safe anchorage and shelter for boats during storms, as well as a place to load provisions on board for long offshore fishing expeditions.

The FLSC covers an area of 3,000 square metres and comprises of a number of large-scale buildings and systems for providing fuel and freshwater to vessels.

Equipped with warehouses, hostels, greenhouses and a boat repair station, the centre has ensured daily necessities as well as providing repair services for fishermen on their fishing operations.

According to Head of FLSC Managing Board Chu Minh Son, the centre now has nine service boats, which ship goods to Da Tay from the mainland and participate in patrols and rescue missions.

They also serve as mobile shops for other islands in the archipelago, guide fishermen with technology to help them catch ocean tuna and help keep the caught fish in good condition for export, he added.

There is a tug boat, which is able to locate suitable docking places for fishing vessels, especially in bad weather conditions.

With the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FLSC has recently carried out a fish cage farming project for seafood with a high economic value.

The project is one of many that are expected to strengthen the economy in Truong Sa, which is one of the key goals of the Vietnam Sea Strategy leading to 2020.
The centre wishes to have a larger fleet of service boats in order to better cater for the demands of fishermen for goods, fuel and other essential materials that would allow them to lengthen their time off-shore exploiting lucrative fishing grounds.

In addition to logistical services, sea security and defence has always been a key duty of the FLSC. The centre’s staff take part in all annual drills and are prepared for combat where necessary to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the seas and islands in the archipelago.-VNA