After a night out at sea, each fisherman’s boat in the Nghi Xuan district collected more than 100 kg of herring. Traders buy to bake and sell for more profit.
In mid-March, at the coast of Xuan Lien commune, Nghi Xuan district, every morning, dozens of boats with a capacity of less than 90CV docked, with many nets carrying thousands of herring.
Herrings live 5-10 nautical miles from shore, often swimming on the surface of the water. Fishermen set sail at the end of the afternoon, returning at 8-9 the next day. They used net hundreds of meters long, 10 meters wide, with large buoys dropped into the sea to catch.
Arriving at the shore, the boat owner mobilizes family members to divide each group of 4-6 people to stand in four corners to stretch the net wide, then tug hard to let the fish fall onto the ready-made canvas.
“The two gills of the fish are often caught in the net, so they are easy to fall out when there is a strong impact. However, there are also some fish that are surrounded by the net across the abdomen, which must be removed by hand. One day we removed the fish with tired hands. “, Mrs. Tran Thi Thanh, 54 years old, residing in Xuan Lien commune, said.
After the fish fell on the canvas, the fishermen picked it up and put it in a plastic and bamboo basket. This stage is usually reserved for women.
After sorting, a woman brought the fish basket to the sea, dipped it many times to clean the sand.
A basket of fresh herring is washed. This species has bluish skin, a long body, many small bones, price 10,000-13,000 VND per kg when sold at sea.
“Once going out to sea, the boat with two workers caught about 100 kg, earning about one million VND. Minus the cost of depreciation of fishing gear, the profit was about 800,000 VND per trip,” said fisherman Nguyen Van Tan.
Around 7-8 o’clock every day, traders in communes such as Xuan Hoi, Xuan Pho, Xuan Hai… gathered at Xuan Lien beach to buy fish to bring back to their partners. “One day I collect 150 kg, some days nearly 400 kg,” said Mrs. Nguyen Thi Toan, resident of Xuan Hoi commune.
Some fishermen do not import fish for traders but put fish in trolleys to take home, then bring to markets in the Nghi Xuan area to retail for 5,000-10,000 VND/kg higher than the original price at sea.
At the end of the trip, the fishermen used a tractor to pull the boat ashore to avoid being damaged by the strong waves against the side of the boat. Usually, some families in Xuan Lien commune will buy a machine to tow for fishermen, on average, once bringing the boat ashore, it costs 20,000-30,000 VND.
The net after removing all the fish will be neatly folded into layers, so that when the net is spread to catch a new trip, it will not be tangled. Some fishermen put nets in boats, but many people put nets in trolleys to take home to store.
Fish bought from the sea are put by traders in many bamboo sheets or mats. People prepare stoves and coals, light fires to grill.
“Before grilling, it is necessary to marinate the fish with a little seasoning such as soup powder, hot chili. This will create an aromatic and rich taste. On average, each morning, a household can bake 100 kg, any time more. 300 kg. Every day, I always consume all the grilled fish, earning more than one million dongs,” said Ms. Vo Thi Tam, resident of Xuan Hoi commune.
Grilled herring sells from 40,000 to 60,000 VND per kg. In addition, fish is also processed many dishes such as salad, stock, tomato sauce, grind to make rolls.
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