Dozens of fishing boats abandoned at Ha Tinh port

Dozens of fishing boats have been left unused at a port in the central province of Ha Tinh, causing problems for vessels that need to moor, particularly during the rainy season.

People who live near Cua Sot Port in Loc Ha District, Ha Tinh, said that most of the boats have been left idle at the port due to technical problems which are not easy to deal with.

Nguyen Xuan Hoa, 68, from Thach Kim Commune, said the off-shore fishing sector was struggling with many challenges due to higher costs. This has discouraged fishermen. Lots of people have given up, leaving their boats unused.

According to Thach Kim Commune Chairman Tran Dinh Hung, the locality was previously home to 300 fishing boats, but that figure has declined to just 100 small vessels now.

Over the past five years, more fishing boats have been abandoned because of rising difficulties facing fishermen, Hung added.

The same situation has also been reported in Cam Nhuong Commune, Cam Xuyen District.

The state of the abandoned vessels has affected the environment.

Some boats have almost been destroyed, except for their rusty frame.

Cam Nhuong Commune Chairman Nguyen Van Hung said the number of local fishing boats has sharply reduced from the previous 250.