Fishermen in the central provinces of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam are happy, bringing in their best catches in years and getting high prices, raising hopes of a bumper Year of the Goat ahead as profit grows.
A fishing boat full of fish after the first trip after Tet
Dozens of fishing boats riding low in the water from their overnight trips jostle for space at Ly Son Wharf in Ly Son District, Quang Ngai Province, to unload their catch.
One fishing boat owner, Nguyen Van Tri, said he was delighted to have had a big catch on his first trip on the Lunar New Year, netting five tonnes of scad, and at a price of VND25,000/kg, he could be looking at a profit of VND80m (USD3,800).
“This is the first time in 20years I have had such a big catch after Tet," Tri said. "I hope it will be a good year for us."
Nguyen Van Tri's fishing boat full of fish
Another fisherman Pham Tien Thanh, said his boat caught three tonnes of a variety of fish on his first trip out on Wednesday (February 25), earning a profit of VND80m. He said he had sold most of his catch before even returning to the wharf, with traders calling him at sea offering high prices.
Many other boats in Ly Son Island District reported large catches on their first voyage of the year.
Even small-scale fishermen are doing well, with Thanh Nien Road lined with fences and poles heavy with drying ribbonfish.
Pham Minh Duc, of Tinh Thuy Village in Tam Ky City, said dried ribbon fish was attracting good prices, far higher than the VND50,000/kg being paid for the fresh fish. Many villagers can been seen carting first back to the village early in the morning to be cleaned and dried.
Ribbon fish being dried along a road in Quang Nam District