Illustrative image (Source: VNA)The cooperativegroups were set up in 2012 with a view to sharing experience, helping fishermensell products, and minimising risks at sea.
Manyfishermen said the cooperative groups have brought about practical benefits.Through the groups, they share information about fishing grounds, support theirpeers with fishing tools and fuel, and help one another avoid risks during longoffshore trips, thereby raising productivity and ensuring stable income forgroup members like boat owners and the crew.
As aresult, cooperative groups have attracted fishermen, boat owners, fisherylogistics providers, and seafood buyers.
There aremore than 60 fishing and fishery logistics cooperative groups in Dong Haidistrict at present.
Lam VanLuom resides in Ganh Hao town and has fished at sea for more than threedecades. He said before joining the cooperative groups, fishermen like him hadto work on their own and needed dozens of days to find fishing grounds. Theirboats also quickly ran out of fuel and supplies after starting to fish, forcingthem to return to the mainland.
Headingback to the mainland took much time and reduced profits, he said.
However,everything has changed since he became a member of a cooperative group, hesaid, adding that when one boat in the group detects fish, it will notify othervehicles in the same group. If it runs out of fuel, it will get help from otherboats.
Luom saidmembers of his group have done well and rarely suffered from losses like theydid in the past.
NguyenTruong Han, head of the agriculture and rural development division of Dong Haidistrict, said such cooperation models have developed strongly in Bac Lieurecently. It has encouraged fishermen to fish farther off the coast as they candeal with risks at sea together.
Alongsidefishing cooperative groups, similar groups which provide fisheries logisticsservices and buy seafood at sea have also flourished.
NguyenDang Tuan, a fisherman in Ganh Hao town, said thanks to logistics cooperativegroups, fishing boats don’t have to bring seafood back to the mainland anymorebut can sell products at sea. Fuel, tools and basic supplies are also providedin fishing grounds thousands of nautical miles offshore where boats areworking. That has cut costs and helped their fishing trips be uninterrupted.
Accordingto the agriculture and rural development division of Dong Hai, cooperativegroups in this district have attracted nine vehicles providing fisherieslogistics services and purchasing seafood at sea. As a result, most of the haulhas been sold offshore, thus slashing expenses and raising profits.
Lt. Col.Nguyen Van Binh, head of the border guard station of Ganh Hao town, saidcooperative groups now not only help maximise economic benefits but also unitefishermen. As group members, they assist each other to avoid and cope withunexpected risks during fishing trips. Notably, with longer offshore trips,fishermen can also assist authorised agencies to protect the country’s marinesovereignty.
Toimprove the effectiveness of the cooperative group model, local authorities aregoing to create favourable policies to promote the foundation of more groups,according to Vice Chairman of the Dong Hai district People’s Committee NguyenXuan Thuy.
Oncefishermen join in such groups and gain profits, they contribute to the wealthof not only their own families but also of the nation while playing animportant role in safeguarding the Fatherland’s sacred sovereignty, he added.-VNA
VNA
