Quang Nam fishermen enjoy bumper shrimp season

The atmosphere in the two communes in Duy Xuyen district is bustling. Although it is the start of shrimp season, the fishermen are taking advantage of the weather to go to sea.

According to many local fishermen, this year's season has come later than usual.

“Normally, the shrimp season starts in the first lunar month, but this year fell on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month,” Nguyen Van Tai, a 60-year-old fisherman said.

The shrimp fishing season usually lasts only 1-2 months.

Favourable weather has created good conditions for local fishermen to go to sea and bring in lucrative hauls.

Fisherman Le Van Chin, living at Village 3, Duy Hai commune, said that for four days, he and his two sons have been out at sea. A daily trip starts at 5 am and ends at about 1 pm.

“On one day, we can get a maximum of a tonne of tiny shrimp and a minimum of 100kg,” Chin said.

“Our boat goes about one nautical mile, then we drop the nets at a depth of about 5-6 m to catch tiny shrimp.”

“These days, all members of my family are involved in the trade.

“My two sons and I go to sea, while my wife dries shrimp in the sun to sell to the traders.”

Fishermen, after pulling in their nets full of shrimp, they will return to shore. Then a fisherman will use a small conical boat to carry the shrimp ashore and sell to traders on the beach.

The price of fresh shrimp ranges from VND20,000-30,000 (US$1.3) per kg, and dried tiny shrimp from VND60,000-90,000 per kg. Four kilos of fresh shrimp can create 1 kg of dried shrimp.

At current prices, Chin and his family can earn more than VND10 million a day, and a minimum of VND1 million a day.

Stir fried shrimp with star fruit and deep-fried spring rolls mixed with shrimp are popular dishes in the area.