Two fishing boats, each with 1,000 horsepower (HP) and 13-14 workers, departed at noon on 8/1 and returned on the morning of 9/1. Each boat secured about 8 tons of anchovies, which were then brought to the Cua Lo fishing port.
The anchovy season in Nghe An begins in january. The region's waters typically feature two varieties: white anchovies and silver anchovies. During this period, white anchovies are predominant, found at depths of 60-80 cm. These fish travel in large, dense schools, often appearing as a white expanse on the water's surface, making them easy to spot.
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Tran Van Luu's two fishing boats, with holds full of anchovies, docked at Cua Lo beach on the morning of 9/1. Photo: Hung Le |
Tran Van Luu's two fishing boats, with holds full of anchovies, docked at Cua Lo beach on the morning of 9/1. Photo: Hung Le
Luu recounted that in the early hours of this morning, his crew deployed a net over 200 m long, successfully capturing a large school of fish, yielding more than 4 tons in one haul. Subsequent catches ranged from 500 kg to one ton, quickly filling the boat's holds.
The anchovies were sold at sea for 14,000 VND per kg. Upon docking, Luu sold his entire catch to traders for 230 million VND. After covering the costs for labor and fuel, the boat owner achieved a profit of about 40%.
"Hitting a big school of fish at the beginning of the year brings high income, so everyone is excited," Luu stated.
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Fishermen from Luu's group pulled a net of anchovies onto the boat in the early morning of 9/1. Photo: Hung Le |
Fishermen from Luu's group pulled a net of anchovies onto the boat in the early morning of 9/1. Photo: Hung Le
Nguyen Canh An, Deputy Chairman of Cua Lo Farmers' Association, reported that this is the first time a household's boat in the area has recorded such a significant anchovy catch in a single day. Previously, while some boats had large hauls of seafood, these often included a mix of various fish species.
An added, "eighteen other pairs of boats in the area also had significant anchovy catches, along with some other seafood, yielding 8-10 tons per pair and generating revenue of over 100 million VND per boat."
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Fishermen transported anchovies ashore to sell to traders. Photo: Hung Le |
Fishermen transported anchovies ashore to sell to traders. Photo: Hung Le
Anchovies belong to the Engraulidae family and primarily inhabit saltwater environments, though some species are found in freshwater and brackish estuaries. These fish are typically under 15 cm long, swim in schools, and feed on various plankton and phytoplankton. Anchovies are versatile; they can be processed into fish sauce, dried, or prepared in numerous dishes such as braised, fried, or cooked in soup with pineapple or sour starfruit leaves.
Duc Hung
