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Fisherman La Phai is recalling stories of the time when he was cruising on East Sea for catching fish. Photo TTO |
After the recent East Sea territorial disputes with China, fishermen in central Binh Dinh province have appealed to one another to band together and form fishing groups of dozens of ships that will protect each other.
However, this isn’t the first time these groups have formed. Fishermen have been gathering under the leadership of intelligent and experienced men for over decades.
The fishermen gather to assist one another while in high seas and to defend against attacks by foreign ships violating their territories as well as pirates. Usually individual fishing ships allow themselves to be placed under the authority of a more experienced seafarer.
The leader plays an important role in his group by identifying sea currents and weather conditions to search for fish, said one such leader, fisherman La Phai from Hoai Nhon District in Binh Dinh.
An experienced leader can also help his colleagues safely survive accidents and storms while in dangerous situations, he added.
Phai has led his group of five fishing boats from as early as 1990 when no Vietnamese fishermen were equipped with kit to find their catch. There were not even timely weather forecasts.
Over the past two years, he has stayed ashore at home and led his fishing fleet of 15 boats through a network of hand radios.
His fishermen still confide in him for his experience and knowledge of the sea and unanimously join under his umbrella.
Stories from the sea
Phai has witnessed events from catching large amounts of tuna in the East Sea to encountering strong storms.
“In the 1990s I had no modern equipment to receive storm news,” he said. “We were fishing in our traditional fishing grounds in Hoang Sa (Paracel) in the East Sea and high waves suddenly emerged. Ten boats from Quang Ngai immediately sank. Many fishermen died.”
Phai said he then took charge and gave commands.
He asked the other boats to roll up all of the fishing nets on the deck, tie them into a block as big as a 200-liter barrel and hang it down at the bow to balance the boat against the waves.
“Then, I instructed each boat to drip half a 200-liter barrel of diesel into the sea at the bow. The block of tied-up nets and floating fuel helped to lessen the splashing power of big waves.”
He said this allowed his group of boats to survive the rough seas for one more day and night until the storm subsided.
“Facing fatal danger when the distance between life and death is merely a strand of hair, smart ideas may flash into your head to survive,” he said. “During the storm, my family thought I died but it was a dream comes true when other fishermen and I returned home safely.”
Phai said it is the right decision for fishermen to join together in groups while going fishing.
Amid high seas, men become much stronger when united, he said.
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