Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Off-shore fishing has over recent years become an economic spearhead in many localities. However, beyond the bumper harvest, there left a hardship weariness that makes it hard for fishermen to do their job.
Nguyen Dinh Dong has returned from a 20-day-plus offshore fishing trip and is repairing fishing equipment for his next voyage.
“It’s not like working onshore with stable timetable. If the net is broken while fishing, we have to repair it no matter what it’s day or night,” said Dong, from Nghia An commune, Quang Ngai city, central Quang Nam province.
It is normal for the fishermen to work without a break up to over 10 hours a day for months.
“It’s really hard, you know. A fishing shift starts from 5 pm to 6 am the next morning. You have to stand the whole 10 hours every day,” said Ho Si Nghia, a fisherman from Binh Nam commune, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province.
Harsh weather made it difficult for fishermen during their voyage. Many lost their life under the stormy sky or without receiving timely treatment in case of accident.
Truong Van Anh, from Man Thai ward, Son Tra district, Da Nang city, said “We are usually lack of medicine on the boat. If we break our arm or leg, it takes the whole day, or fastest 10 hours, for an ambulance ship to get to us.”
Over recent years, measures have been implemented to aid fishermen, including insurance and ship building support and technology apply in fishing at sea.
“We must see fishery as an exploiting industry, so that the government should pour more investment in modern fishing vessels and technology, as well as fully train crew,” Tran Van Linh, Chairman of the fishing union of Da Nang city, said.
Beyond exploiting seafood, the fishermen are also making great contribution to protecting the sacred sovereignty of seas and islands of the homeland.
More preferential treatments are needed to improve the fishermen’s working conditions, ensuring their safety while sailing offshore.-VNA
VNA
