New Vietnam Tuna Fishery Video Production Begins
July 26, 2019. Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Inspired by the recognition of the Vietnam handline tuna fishery as a “one-by-one” fishery by the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), a new video project has started production.
Commissioned by IPNLF and Sea Delight and supported by new IPNLF member the Vietnam Tuna Association (VINATUNA), the new documentary is titled “Lines of Change”. The video will tell the story of how, in a matter of a few years, fishers completely changed the fishing gear used to capture premium, sashimi-grade, tuna in Vietnam’s Eastern Sea (the South China Sea).
Led by the Emmy-nominated US-based documentary director Larry Nimmer, first unit production spent 10 days filming in Vietnams 3 main tuna producing provinces; Binh Dinh, Phu Yun and Khanh Hoa. Interviews with the actual stakeholders involved in the fishery’s transformation help tell the story of this unprecedented change.
Director Larry Nimmer on location
Without giving too much of the plot away, the premise of the story is simple. Fishers in at least 2 fisheries observed unusual interaction between tuna and other marine species. These observations led to experiments with gear, bait and fishing techniques. Then, at least one vessel filled its holds with prime tuna using a new fishing method.
Fishers demonstrate handline gear
Onboard photo of handline fishing
Word of this discovery quickly spread up and down the coast of South Central Vietnam and the result was what could be called a “blue gold rush”.
Yellowfin tuna ready for processing
The Vietnam Hook and line tuna fishery used to be a 100% longline fishery. Today the fishery has completely changed to nearly 100% handline gear. Handline fishing is known to have a significantly lower ecosystem impact than longline fishing. This means the change has been a “win-win-win” for fishing communities, FIP administrators and fishery managers.
“Lines of Change” will tell the story of this transformation and we will report on the production, and premier, of this documentary here.
END Stephen Fisher – Sea Delight