Shipwrecks scatter in central Vietnam coast as fishers quit jobs

Sa Huynh used to be the most bustling fishing ports in Quang Ngai Province but that has changed these days, with many shipwrecks scattered in the area.

The remains of fishing boats that used to cost VND1-2 billion (US$42,000-84,000) each.

Owners of those ships have sold most equipment on board before abandoning them.

Vo Thi Mua, 57, said her family spent VND1.3 billion to build the ship eight years ago.

Four years ago, the fishing business started to go slow, and eventually her family ran out of fund to keep it going.

"We wanted to sell the boat but we could not find any customers so we just left it here until it became worn out."

"Now I just take away pieces by pieces and sell them to scrap vendors. For the wooden part, I use them as firewood," she said.

A piece of what used to be the ship of Mua's family.

Inside a shipwreck at Sa Huynh port.

Garbage flows all over a shipwreck.

Currently, there are as many as 26 shipwrecks at the port.

A coracle on a part of a fishing vessel.

Gia Tan Tau, deputy chairman of Duc Pho Town that is home to Sa Huynh port, said that "Shipwrecks cause pollution and affect the image of the port but their owners are all in difficult financial situation and could not afford towing them away."

Ships that could still be used are left ashore as fishermen have quit sailing for years following a lack of seafood sources.

Kinh Quang Cang, owner of one of these ships, said he used to own two ships worth more than VND3 billion in total. Four years ago, he sold one at VND1 billion and for the remaining one, he could not find a buyer until now.

Pho Thanh Ward in Duc Pho Town used to have 1,200 fishing vessels but now there are only nearly 1,100 left.

Local authorities said fishers have quit due to a shortage of seafood sources and a rise of fuel costs.