Timely prevent overfishing of sardines on the Red River and Luoc River

Sardines live in estuaries and brackish estuary waters, but during the breeding season they return to the Red River and Luoc River to lay eggs. However, overexploitation in recent years has caused this specialty species to decrease in number…

With its location adjacent to the Red River, the people of Dong Ninh commune (Khái Chau) have a traditional profession of fishing. This activity takes place all year round but is most exciting usually in the months of February – April (lunar calendar) when fish sardines return to the Red River to lay eggs. Currently, in the Dong Ninh wharf area, there are 5-6 fishing boats (including people from other provinces who come to exploit and fish).

Mr. Thanh, a fisherman at Dong Ninh wharf, said: Fishing all year round, but sardine fishing season brings the highest income. This specialty is being purchased by traders for 30,000 – 50,000 VND/kg, always in a state of not having enough goods to sell. However, sardine catch is decreasing sharply. Previously, every day I caught about 10 – 20kg of sardines, but now, only 3 – 5kg per day, large sized fish are also very few.

These days, at Vu Dien wharf, Hoang Hanh commune (Hung Yen city) there are 15-17 fishing boats. Fishermen fish all day and night, then collect their nets to the wharf to sell fish to traders twice a day, usually in the early morning and at 13:00 – 14:00. afternoon.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dan in An Chau 2 village, Hoang Hanh commune said: I have been working in fisheries on the Red River for many years. Sardine exploitation time is usually from the end of January to the end of the 4th lunar month. The sardine season helps me earn an average income of several hundred thousand dong per day, and have more work during the off-season months. However, the use of small mesh nets at high density by fishermen causes the amount of fish caught each year to decrease. Big sardines in particular and other big fish in the river in general are increasingly rare…

During this time, at markets in the province, it is easy to see sardines sold in the seafood section. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuoi, a small trader at Pho Hien market (Hung Yen city) said: I have been selling seafood from fishermen on the Red River for many years. “Every season is different”, this time focusing on sardines. Every day, I go to the Vu Dien wharf area to buy fish to sell at Pho Hien market. At peak times, there are days when I buy 5 quintals of fish, sometimes there is not enough stock for customers.

Ms. Mao, a small trader selling seafood at Hoi market, Hai Trieu commune (Tien Lu), said: Besides regular fish, during sardine season, I buy more to retail for 30,000 – 40,000 VND/kg. It is a natural, nutritious fish that only has one season per year and the price is “affordable” so it is popular with many people. Many people also buy it as gifts and process it into many dishes to store and eat throughout the year.

According to statistics from the Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), on average each year, people in the province catch about 500 – 600 tons of natural fish, with sardines accounting for about 25 – 30% of the output. Because fish only appears seasonally and the consumption market is favorable, people have focused on overexploitation. It can be affirmed that during this period, all those who make a living on the river make the most of their time and mobilize all their resources to exploit sardines to gain their own profits. ! Overfishing is the main reason why sardine yields decrease by 10-20% each year.

In order to protect aquatic resources, including sardines, on February 21, 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Dispatch No. 279/SNN-PTS on strengthening the protection and development of aquatic resources in the local area. Accordingly, all forms of fishing and aquatic exploitation on the Red River and Luoc River in Hung Yen province are strictly prohibited from March 1 to May 31 every year to protect migration routes and spawning grounds. eggs of fire fish, spotted sailfish, and flowered flag sardine.

Faced with the situation of sardine exploitation during the breeding season still continuing in many localities in the province, Mr. Vu Van Diep, Head of the Fisheries Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) said: Recently, the authorities have coordinated Coordinate with localities and relevant units to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to strictly comply with regulations to protect and regenerate aquatic resources. However, due to people’s lack of awareness in protecting aquatic resources, while supervision by functional agencies is limited, the “laying grounds” of sardines are within the scope of many provinces. management… Up to this point, the province has not sanctioned any case of sardine exploitation that violates the fishing time.

To contribute to protecting and regenerating sardine resources, it is necessary for the synchronous participation of functional agencies and local authorities, especially each person needs to raise awareness and responsibility in exploiting and protecting resources. aquatic benefits.

Duong Mien – Huong Giang