Fishermen join hand to protect national seas and islands

• Promoting cooperation in ensuring just and humane treatment of fishermen in the South China Sea
• 2,000 national flags presented to Thanh Hoa’s fishermen

In Binh Chau Commune, fishermen have to face potential risks and dangers when fishing at sea. According to the Binh Chau Commune People’s Committee, in 2020, a local boat was sunk by a foreign ship while fishing in the waters of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. 10 other fishing boats were also threatened by quasi-military foreign ships.

In the first quarter of 2021, two fishing boats caught fire while anchoring at the quay in Binh Chau commune, and one fishing boat was sunk by a cargo ship while fishing in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

After the incidents, the authorities of Binh Son District, Binh Chau Commune and the local Fisheries Union visited and encouraged fishermen’s families. At the same time, they supported the fishermen to overcome their difficulties and keep fishing in the open sea.

Over the past time, the communal authority in collaboration with the Quang Ngai Provincial Mass Mobilization Commission has held dissemination drives on the 2017 Fisheries Law for local fishermen, and presented hundreds packs of gifts with a total amount of 50 million VND to fishermen living in difficulty due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to Mr. Le Van Nguyen, Chairman of the Binh Chau Commune People’s Committee, the commune has 485 fishing watercraft, of which 150 often go to high seas, especially to their traditional fishing grounds near the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos of Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Binh Chau Commune has nearly 18,000 residents, with more than 50% of the population working in fishing-related fields. Statistics show that the total fisheries production of Binh Chau commune in 2020 reached 20,000 tons. In the first quarter of 2021, it reached 5,500 tons.

Despite many difficulties, Binh Chau fishermen are not discouraged. They always strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges to contribute to protecting national sea and islands.