Since May this year, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Vietnam has co-operated with Phu Yen's departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development to launch the campaign encouraging fishermen to bring waste ashore.
A Phu Yen's fisherman brings waste to shore.
Vo Quang Luc, owner of fishing boat PY91287 in Tuy Hoa City, said that previously, he and many other fishermen used to discharge litter into the sea. However, since participating in the campaign, they have recognised the serious consequences of this behaviour.
Besides using the provided mesh bags for waste collection, he gathers damaged or broken fishing gear and stores it onboard to take ashore. His boat collects around 10-20 kilogrammes of waste on each fishing trip, with more than half of it being plastic waste, such as water bottles, plastic bags, and torn nets.
Fishermen often bring food, bottled water, canned drinks, and other essentials on every offshore trip. If not properly collected, the waste generated from these items can cause serious environmental pollution at the sea.
Since the campaign's implementation, more than four tonnes of waste gathered from the sea have been brought to the four major ports of Tien Chau, Dan Phuoc, Dong Tac, and Phu Lac. Of this, nearly 2.5 tonnes are recyclable waste.
According to Ha Vien, Director of the Phu Yen Fisheries Port Management Board, the four local fishing ports see around 13,500-14,500 fishing vessel arrivals and departures annually, generating a total of 24 tonnes of solid waste annually.
The Fisheries Port Management Board has arranged staff to receive and classify waste from fishing vessels for disposal, Ha Vien added.
Phu Yen Province is now home to 2,380 registered fishing vessels operating at sea, including more than 660 engaged in offshore fishing.