Seaweed harvest underway in Quang Ngai

At the crack of dawn, hundreds of fishermen from coastal communes in the central province of Quang Ngai sail their coracles out to the sea to harvest a special gift that nature has bestowed upon their homeland: seaweed.

Among the different varieties of seaweed, sargassum, which grows mainly on coral reefs, is a food source and creates a place for other species to shelter and reproduce. It also creates a favourable environment for dozens of coral species to develop. (Photo: VNA)

Starting at 5am, fishermen in Chau Thuan Bien village in Binh Chau commune head out to sea in coracles and harvest seaweed 500-800 metres from the shore. (Photo: VNA)

The Hon Nhan area, where fishermen harvest sargassum. (Photo: VNA)

Fishermen use a net to circle an area of about 50 square metres, then use scuba gear to dive underwater and cut seaweed. (Photo: VNA)

Large-scale fishing operations use boats while small-scale operations use baskets to harvest seaweed. (Photo: VNA)

VNA