10 Questions on Vietnamese Fishing Communities

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Sea Briefs is a report on the results of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.

Editor: Valerie Winn

This newsletter is available in PDF format from:
masgc.org/seabriefs

MASGC supports applied, interdisciplinary marine science research, education and outreach efforts to foster the sustainable development and management of the Mississippi and Alabama coasts and nearshore ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico

Mississippi-Alabama
Sea Grant Consortium
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: 228-818-8840
E-mail: seabriefs@masgc.org
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10 Questions on Vietnamese Fishing Communities

PETER NGUYEN, a Sea Grant fisheries technologist, serves the Gulf Coast’s growing Vietnamese fishing community. A 15-year veteran shrimper, Nguyen speaks both English and Vietnamese and helps engage Vietnamese fishermen in important fishing industry issues. In addition to offering the fishermen technical assistance, such as providing information about new regulations and proposed legislation, he helps relay fishermen’s concerns back to agencies, organizations and researchers. He has also been instrumental in helping Vietnamese fishermen participate in the effort to gather data used to develop a fishing effort profile of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery by assisting Vietnamese fishermen in using electronic logbook (ELB) technology. Covering an area from Pass Christian, Miss. to Bayou La Batre, Ala., Nguyen has interacted with nearly 100 shrimpers since he accepted the position in the spring of 2006. His office is located at the Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Miss.

1. What positive results have come about because of your interaction with the Vietnamese fishermen?

I understand their problems and how they have to deal with the rising prices of ice and fuel and their boats breaking down. When they have other problems, such as a need to acquire mandatory permits, they come to me and I direct them to the proper sources.

2. How has your experience as a shrimper benefited you in your work?

I know that being a shrimper is very tough. There’s a lot of worry and stress. I was a shrimper for 15 years. From 2002 to 2005, I operated a 95-foot steel hull boat. I understand what the local fishermen have been through. They can trust me because I know about all the things that can happen to them—both good and bad.

3. Which aspect of your work has brought you the most satisfaction?

The turnout of Vietnamese fishermen at the NOAA permit meeting. Many of them were reluctant to attend, but they needed to understand about renewing their licenses. They were glad they came and they’ll make sure that the next time I tell them about a meeting, they will come. I’m also glad to be able to help them understand NOAA regulations.

4. Will you describe your job?

I help the Vietnamese fishing community and find where they have problems in understanding laws and legislation, especially if they don’t understand the document. That’s when I explain it to them.

5. What kind of feedback have you received from Vietnamese shrimpers?

They’re happy to see me because I’m the only person who will listen and understand their problems. They know that the information will be related back to the Research Center through me. I guess I’m like a bridge between the Vietnamese shrimpers and the Research Center. Both parties are happy because the Research Center gets the information and the shrimpers get any updated regulations and information.

BICHNGA "JAY" BOULET is employed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she manages a commercial landings database for Gulf of Mexico fisheries. Involved in the seafood industry for nearly 20 years, she spent 12 years working for NOAA Fisheries in New Orleans as a port agent for Plaquemines Parish. Her job involves collecting shrimp landing data and biological fish samplings as well as providing fishery resources to the fishermen and dealers in the area. She has worked closely with fishermen and has informed the industry on changes in the fisheries regulations. Boulet has also worked with Sea Grant agents in conducting bilingual meetings and translating materials to educate both Vietnamese and English-speaking fishermen on various shrimp and fish regulations. She holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Tampa.

6. What are the missions of NOAA Fisheries Service?

NOAA Fisheries Service is responsible for the management, conservation and protection of living marine resources within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Many factors, both natural and human-related, affect the status of fish stocks, protected species and ecosystems. Although these factors cannot all be controlled, available scientific and management tools enable the agency to have a strong influence on many of them.
Maintaining and improving the health and productivity of these species is the heart of our stewardship mission.

7. How have the fishing communities along the Gulf states changed over the years?

By the 1980s, many Vietnamese arrived in the United States as refugees and resided throughout all 50 states. Around the mid-1980s the Vietnamese with fishing experience from their native country, found a second home along the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Many of these were not able to earn new skills and have had hard times learning English in a short time period. They have found fishing and shrimping as ways to support their families.

8. What is the most challenging barrier the Vietnamese fishing/shrimping community faces?

NOAA Fisheries Service has an obligation to conserve, protect and manage living marine resources. To fulfill these obligations, it has introduced amendments to the regulations that help maintain healthy stocks, rebuild and eliminate over-fished stocks and increase long-term economic and social benefits. The Vietnamese fishermen have struggled with the language barrier for many years, and as a result, some of them have misunderstood
these amendments and their applications.

9. How have the involvement of NOAA Fisheries and Sea Grant assisted the Vietnamese fishermen?

NOAA Fisheries Service understands the struggle Vietnamese fishermen have been facing and the agency has provided resources to inform and educate them on the changes. NOAA Fisheries and Sea Grant agents have worked closely putting together bilingual meetings, videos and workshops on TEDs (Turtle Exclusion Devices). We have also translated some English materials into Vietnamese. We provided language assistance
and training on Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and the Shrimp Social Economic Survey. The most resent assistance has been conducting bilingual meetings on the Shrimp Moratorium Amendment.

10. Where can fishermen find more resources on fishing regulations?

Fishermen and dealers can access the following Web sites for information: Permits – http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/permits.htm; Fishery Bulletins – http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov; Southeast Regional Office – http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/directorate/phone.htm. Fishermen and dealers should get involved in the fishery regulations process. More information is available from: http://www.gulfcouncil.org.