Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Fish catches are gradually recovering after the COVID-19outbreak in central provinces, according to local fishermen.

Le Thi Bich Lien, a seafood trader in Binh Thuan province, said in recent daysthe Phan Thiet fishing port has been a hub of activity with many kinds ofseafood including yellow stripe trevally, mackerel, squid, and other localspecies being brought constantly from the sea by fishermen.

“Due to the return of tourists to Phan Thiet, the consumption of seafood hasincreased, leading to an increase in prices from last month.”

Phan Van Nam, a fisherman in the province’s La Gi commune, said: “I am veryhappy because during this trip the cost of petrol and oil were very low, thecatch was big and seafood prices were up.”

Traders are now paying 50,000 VND (2.2 USD) for a kilogramme of skipjack tuna, 10,000VND higher than 10 days ago, he said.

After unloading their catch he and his crew plan to set sail again immediatelyto take advantage of the rich pickings at sea and low fuel prices, he said.

According to the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,herrings, shrimps, shellfish, scallops, and specks are appearing in many areas,fishermen are entering the South Fish Season, the prices of petrol and oil arecheap, and so they expect a big profit.

Fishermen in neighbouring Phu Yen province are getting ready to fish tuna sincethe COVID-19 situation in the Republic of Korea and China is under control andimport demand there will gradually recover.

According to a report by the Vietnam Research Institute for Marine Fisheries,fish migration to Vietnamese waters is huge this season, and fishermen shoulduse technological tools like magnetic compass, GPS and sonar to improve theircatch. If the migratory fishes are optimally exploited, the country's target of3.95 million tonnes of seafood this year would be achieved, it said.

The two provinces plan to continue upgrading their fishing ports and stormshelters, developing logistics services for fishing and diversifying processedfish products to add value.

The two provinces would use soft loans from central and local governments tohelp fishermen build high-capacity boats for offshore fishing, the institutesaid./.