Despite many difficulties and challenges in 2021, Quang Binh fishermen still persistantly sailed their boats out to sea and and fishing grounds, catching nearly 72,000 ton of fish, up 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

According to Le Van Loi, Deputy Director of Quang Binh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the orientation of the sector is to strengthen the operation of offshore fishing fleets to improve production efficiency.

Therefore, fishery training for local fishermen has been paid attention by local authorities in recent years.

"We have observed and comprehended local fishermen's needs so that the training could be promptly implemented", said Le Ngoc Linh, Director of Quang Binh Fisheries Sub-Department.

From such training classes, thousands of fishermen in Quang Binh Province have been equipped with skills to become crews and captains and qualified for long-distance fishing trips.

In 2021 specifically, the Quang Binh Fisheries Sub-Department coordinated with localities in the province to organize training courses and granted certificates for hundreds of fishermen. In which, nearly 200 fishermen have been granted certificates of captain and chief engineer of class III fishing vessels.

“Such training has provided fishermen with necessary fishing skills. At the same time, labourers on fishing vessels could have qualified professional certificates to receive fishing licenses for fishing vessels,” Linh added.

Ngo Buu family in Bao Ninh Commune in Dong Hoi City has both father and son working as fishermen. Buu said, they attended training courses and have been granted certificates of captain and chief engineer thanks to the provincial policy of supporting training.

“Since then, we have been much more confident to sail our boat out to sea. In addition to sea experience, each of us has been equipped with technical knowledge, laws and administrative procedure,” he added.

Besides training fishermen, the Sub-Department of Fisheries has developed and proposed a plan to strengthen the entire unit, reassign officials according to the Government's Decrees for efficient operation.

The work of training and improving the quality of cadres, civil servants and public employees has also always been a major concerned. The unit has created favorable conditions for nearly 20 officials to participate in state management training courses for key specialists, improve professional qualifications and inspect food safety.

To encourage fishermen to persistantly pursue their work and protect the national sovereignty, the Sub-Department has promoted administrative reform and enhanced service duties. Leaders of the Sub-Department direct the "one-stop" department to well perform the receipt, processing and return of documents properly and timely.

“In 2021 alone, we carried out over 1,200 administrative procedures. Thereby, the fishermen encountered no difficulties with the procedure and therefore felt excited to sail out to sea. In addition, the strict and scientific recording and storage aided the exploitation and use of utilities as well as updating the progress of the settlement on the province's electronic one-stop information system", Linh added.

To make the fishermen to feel more secured, the Quang Binh Fisheries Sub-Department has properly developed and implemented a plan for disaster prevention and fishery search and rescue. It has been conducted by maintaining good communication with fishing vessels at sea, grasping the accident situation to relevant organisations for suitable measures and therefore minimizing damage.

In the past year and the first months of this year, four local fishing boats have been sunk, two of which sunk during operation and another two due to collision with other ships. All the fishermen have been rescued in time so no loss of life has been recorded.

“The Sub-department has advised the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Trade Union to timely visit, give gifts and encourage the families of fishermen in need," Linh added.

Translated by Phuong Ha