Women in the fishing village of Binh Thuan
Commune in Quang Ngai central province are equal to men in bravery and hard
work as they ride on high waves every day in fishing journeys offshore.
On an
afternoon early in March, Mrs. Tam was with her husband on their boat at sea
working. The wind was strong. As the small boat moved forwards unsteadily, she
stood at the prow, preparing the fishing equipment and giving hand signals to
help her husband avoid high waves.
Deep love for the sea
Tam is
in her fifties, with a sun-burnt face. She has been working with her husband on
the sea for more than ten years. At the age of nine, she started to go offshore
with her father to earn their living. While growing up, she married Hoang.
Unable to afford a big boat, they bought a small one, and they make their
living on the sea by catching fish with nets.
They
used to catch fish near the shore, but the sea life in that area has been
remarkably reduced recently. She became as skillful as men in using the fishing
net. On the sea, she throws and draws up the net while her husband steers the
boat. Despite the strong waves throwing water straight into her face, she
stands, with hands skillfully controlling the net. She said, “People traditionally
say that only men can work on the sea. But now it is normal for women to do
that as well. They do not get seasick, and they cooperate well with their
husbands. It is economic, too. They may get used to the job. The good
cooperation between the couples helps them earn a living and support their
children’s study. I have fallen in love with the sea, and cannot quit these
journeys. It is interesting to be on the sea with my husband.”
At 4 am
the next morning, they went back onto the water to pull the net back to their
boat. At the post, the engine was stopped, and the boat was anchored in the
continuous pushes of waves. Two 500-meter-long nets were gradually pulled onto
their boat. Mrs. Tam suddenly cried out happily, “Darling, we got a big grouper.”
They tried to pull the net up as quickly as possible, delighted with the fish
weighing up to 14 kilograms in weight, which Tam held tight to her body.
Then
the net got stuck in the coral reef, and they both pulled it vigorously to
release it. Fish, shellfish, cuttlefish, and octopus were found in their net.
Tam said cheerfully, “We are lucky today. This stuff is worth about two million
dong. But there are also days when we get nothing from the sea.”
Her
husband, Hoang said “I feel pity seeing my wife work so hard on the sea. But it
is a wonderful moment when we get a good catch of fish together. Having my wife
with me, seeing her mending and pulling the net, I feel so happy and take the
challenges of the job more easily.”
Going offshore
It was
hot in March. At Ly Son harbor, many members of the fairer sex are going
fishing, which is one of the hardest jobs around. Mrs. Bui Thi Ngoc was from
Gia Lai and used to know nothing about fishing at sea. Fate made her marry a
fisherman, and she became a fisherwoman five years ago.
“At
first I was terribly seasick. I didn’t think I could ever become a fisherwoman.
But then I couldn’t stand letting my husband work hard alone. I trained myself
to endure sea waves. Now I enjoy the happiness of working on the sea with my
husband,” said Ngoc.
Her day
starts at 4:30 am when she goes offshore to pull the net in with her husband.
Then she goes to the market to sell what they have caught. After taking care of
her business at the market, Ngoc rows her coracle out to open water to bring
lunch to her husband. Then in the afternoon she helps her husband mend the net
for the night catch.
Mrs.
Pham Thi Thuy Quynh humorously sang as she was mending the net, “The boat is my
home, the sea and islands my hometown, and my house a hotel. It’s funny, but
it’s true.”
She
compares her house to a hotel because she seldom stays at home. “During high
fishing season, I may stay on the sea for the whole month. Going home,
preparing money and food for my children’s study, then going back to the sea.
That’s my routine in fishing seasons. It’s hard, isn’t it? But we have to
strive. Many other women are doing the same thing, too,” said Quynh.
Her
husband, Le Van Thanh, looked at his wife, smiled and said, “I’m happier to go
to work on the sea with my wife than with a male friend. But I feel so sorry
when she has to struggle with sickness and high waves. It is difficult for men
to stand the waves and surges, let alone women. I am happy and proud to have
such a hard-working, loving wife.”
Sea
waves continuously strike the shore, as they have for ages. Brave fisherwomen
are still riding on the waves to share hard work with their husbands as they
have been for years. The salty strenuousness of the job can never overtake
these fisherwomen’s bravery and resolution.
TUOI
TRE
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