Quang Nam fishermen struggle due to Covid-19 pandemic
Fishermen in Quang Nam are facing difficulties as fish prices have plunged by 50%.
"Such low prices won't be enough for fuel alone. This is the main fishing season of the year so if we don't work, we won't have anything to eat. But if we go out to the sea, we'll suffer losses. It's better than nothing," Quoc said.
According to Quoc, the prices were low because consumption power decreased amid the pandemic. Moreover, several fishing ports and seafood wholesale markets have been closed while refrigerated trucks, which mostly deliver to restaurants, rarely go to the southern region now.
Vo Thi Kieu, a trader at Ky Ha Port, said the prices for scad fish dropped by VND40,000 (USD1.70) to VND20,000-VND25,000 per kilo, while the prices for tuna also dropped to VND17,000 per kilo.
"Transportation is very difficult," she said. "If we hire drivers from other provinces and the cost will increase and we won't have any profits. I mostly buy fish and resell at nearby markets in Nui Thanh, Phu Ninh, Thang Binh districts or Tam Ky City."
Fisherman Huynh Van Tuong said while the fish prices drop, they have to deal with a fuel price hike.
"The cost for each trip then rises by VND50m (USD2,100) to VND100m. But we are still preparing to go out to the sea. We hope the authorities will have measures to help us," he said.
Quang Nam has over 700 off-shore fishing boats. In the first seven months of 2021, the fishermen brought back 77,000 tonnes of seafood, an increase of 3% compared to the same period last year.
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"Such low prices won't be enough for fuel alone. This is the main fishing season of the year so if we don't work, we won't have anything to eat. But if we go out to the sea, we'll suffer losses. It's better than nothing," Quoc said.
According to Quoc, the prices were low because consumption power decreased amid the pandemic. Moreover, several fishing ports and seafood wholesale markets have been closed while refrigerated trucks, which mostly deliver to restaurants, rarely go to the southern region now.
Vo Thi Kieu, a trader at Ky Ha Port, said the prices for scad fish dropped by VND40,000 (USD1.70) to VND20,000-VND25,000 per kilo, while the prices for tuna also dropped to VND17,000 per kilo.
"Transportation is very difficult," she said. "If we hire drivers from other provinces and the cost will increase and we won't have any profits. I mostly buy fish and resell at nearby markets in Nui Thanh, Phu Ninh, Thang Binh districts or Tam Ky City."
Fisherman Huynh Van Tuong said while the fish prices drop, they have to deal with a fuel price hike.
"The cost for each trip then rises by VND50m (USD2,100) to VND100m. But we are still preparing to go out to the sea. We hope the authorities will have measures to help us," he said.
Quang Nam has over 700 off-shore fishing boats. In the first seven months of 2021, the fishermen brought back 77,000 tonnes of seafood, an increase of 3% compared to the same period last year.
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