EXPLOSIVES AND POVERTY THREATEN "FISH IN THE WATER" NEAR KIEN GIANG
(Vietnam News, 06/Jan/95)

The sea off Kien Giang on the south-western coast is a relatively 
sheltered area that is rarely visited by typhoons. The sub-tropical 
climate also makes the sea a perfect home for 273 species of marine 
life and 71 families of fish.

Scattered all over the sea bed around Nam Du island are ranges of 
laterite, the ideal conditions for four different kinds of highly 
valued fish - the so-called "gang of four". Along the 15 - 20 nautical 
miles of coast between the Doc river and Rach Gia is a stretch of mud 
and sand which is the home for shrimp, arca granosa and other fish. 
The area is also aided by the migration of marine animals throughout 
the Gulf of Thailand, which ensures a constant and plentiful supply of 
fish in the area. It is for these reasons that Kien Giang has a fish 
reserve of about 450,000 tonnes.

A local saying reflects the deeply-held beliefs of many fishermen: 
"Birds in sky, fish in water. Everybody is on his own, catch them the 
way you like and they are yours."

And the south-western sea continues to attract fishermen - they come 
from Tien Giang, Minh Hai, the central provinces and even Hanoi for 
the opportunity to fish in these waters.

Yet the introduction of the market economy has changed greatly the 
nature of the buying and selling of marine products, the supply of 
materials and investments. The Hanoi State Fishery Company has 
suffered several financial setbacks, and many local fishermen have not 
been able to support themselves. Many local fishing cooperatives have 
collapsed. Only the Provincial State Fishing Company seems to have 
remained relatively stable - in 1993, it produced 12,000 tonnes 
turning over VND 50 billion, raising an accumulation fund to nearly 
VND 9 billion and delivering VND 5 billion to budget.

Yet of late the marine product industry in Kien Giang seems to be 
undergoing a period of revitalisation. 13,000 fishing boats and ships, 
7,000 of them from Kien Giang, are currently using 63,000 square 
kilometres of fishing area. The sea off Kien Giang can't cope with the 
demand that is currently being placed upon it. The Nam Du island, 60km 
from Rach Gia, for example, is suffering from continued environmental 
exploitation.

Every available facility is being used to exploit the Kien Giang area 
to the fullest. Extremely powerful lights have been used to round up 
fish. Fishing inspectors have seized about 40 such lights, but the 
trend does not show any sign of abatement. The use of ultra-powerful 
lights means that fish are killed without discrimination. Explosives 
have also been used. Tho Chau island and the area around Phu Quoc 
island are the targets of this cruel fishing method. Not only are the 
fish being killed, but coral and sea-vegetation on the sea-bed are 
being ruined. 

Decisions have been made to ban such fishing methods. But the 
fishermen have their own agreement - fishing is their day-to-day 
livelihood and it will take them time to change over to a new 
occupation. As Mr. Chin Luom, a fisherman well-experienced in the Kien 
Giang area, and who now has a fleet of 20 fishing boats says: 

"Five years ago, only 10-15 days at sea and you could have shiploads 
of high quality fish and shrimp. After only a couple of months, my 
family could have a new ship. And now? Well, it takes 20-25 good days. 
The owners of poor fishing facilities are lucky enough to break even. 
Even they must suffer losses".

Yet the sea is not inexhaustible. Without immediate action the south- 
western sea will be irreparably damaged. The Ministry of Sea Products 
needs to formulate a plan to regulate the exploitation of marine 
products. Moreover, a credit bank should bc established to provide 
fishermen with badly-needed funding. Another pressing issue is the 
need for legislation to protect the Kien Giang area.

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