Fishing boats anchored at Ly Son Port in Quang Ngai Province (Photo: VnExpress)

(VOVworld) - The Prime Minister has chosen Ly Son to launch a pilot for developing a much larger fleet of offshore fishing boats. Nearly 700 fishermen of 58 members of the An Hai Fishing Trade Union of Ly Son District have responded to the policy. Quang Ngai People’s Committee has worked with Vietnam’s Shipbuilding Industry Group, Vinashin to develop a project to build 22 new large fishing boats with capacity from 600 to 1,000 horsepower. Pham Thi Huong, Deputy Chairwoman of Ly Son People’s Committee, says each year local fishermen catch 30,000 tons of seafood earning over $9.6 million. Huong says 'If the pilot is successful and expanded to other provinces and cities nationwide, it will contribute great to the development of the country’s marine economy, currently a key industry of Ly Son. Therefore if local people actively participate in the program, it will help them safer and boost the marine economy'.