At the estuary, fishermen stay close to the water’s edge; some cast nets, some haul them in, some fish with rods… The repetitive, decisive motions, with little deviation, are the skills accumulated over many fishing seasons.
When a school of fish is encountered, the working rhythm shifts immediately. The net closes quickly, arms pull in unison. At times, the net grows heavy, signalling a good catch. As the net is gathered, a few large fish thrash strongly, their silvery flashes making the net surface tremble. Mr. Tran Van Minh pulls in a fish weighing over 2kg, removing it from the net while turning to smile at his wife - a moment of happiness for a couple who have been tied to the estuary for 20 years.
This season, juvenile pin-spotted spinefoots follow the current into the estuary, moving in schools, making netting more favorable. Currently, this fish sells for around 500.000 - 600.000 VND per kilogram, boosting the value of each haul. According to many fishermen, this is a significant source of income each year during the juvenile pin-spotted spinefoot fishing season.
In this line of work, the clearest joy comes when fish are weighed and sold right on the shore, close to the estuary. Baskets of juvenile pin-spotted spinefoots are turned into cash by hand; valuable sea bass, fresh mullet… are all purchased. Income may be high or low, but it sustains the familiar cycle of livelihood, allowing fishermen to remain committed to the sea.
After hours of fishing, the scent of salt still lingers on hands and bodies. Thuan An estuary maintains its own rhythm: unembellished, uninterrupted, with fishermen following the tides, working steadily through each fishing season.
Images of livelihoods at Thuan An estuary:
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| Fishermen preparing nets before heading out to fish |
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| A couple casting nets at the estuary, where two water flows meet |
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| Not far away, an elderly fisherman dropping his fishing line |
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| Checking equipment before lowering nets into the water |
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| Small boats bobbing at the estuary |
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| Two fishermen hauling nets with juvenile pin-spotted spinefoots |
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The catch
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Traders come directly to the estuary to purchase juvenile pin-spotted spinefoots as fingerlings for nearby aquaculture areas
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| The joy of Tran Van Minh, a fisherman, after catching a sea bass weighing over 2kg |
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| Traders coming on-site to buy freshly caught fish |