The Viet Nam Fisheries Association (VFA) on October 5 launched a campaign to raise donations to a fund in support of fishermen who have to brave risky conditions out at sea.

VFA President Nguyen Viet Thang said the country now has 130,000 fishing vessels and around 1 million people who live on fishing. The fishermen are facing a lot of difficulties and challenges due to increasing production costs, reducing seafood outputs, natural disasters, unfavourable weather conditions and complicated security situation in the waters.

According to incomplete statistics, between 2007 and 2009, nearly 400 accidents happened to fishermen at sea with more than 2,000 people dead and missing. Some others were seriously injured and unable to return to their job.

Therefore, in addition to assisting fishermen and providers of fishing logistics services in the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa waters to overcome losses caused by offshore incidents, the fund also aims to help them avoid risks through upgrading vessels, fishing equipment and other necessities, Thang said.

The VFA affirmed that the fund, recognised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, operates with fundings mobilised from domestic and foreign businesses, organisations and individuals to assist Vietnamese fishermen in difficulty./.