THE EXPLOITATION AND PROCESSING OF SEAFOOD IN THE MARITIME OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL COAST (VIETNAM) DURING THE 19TH CENTURY (1802 – 1885)

DOI: 10.18173/2354-1067.2024-0037

Abstract

Benefiting from a region blessed with anextensive coastline and diverse marine life,Vietnamese migrants settling in the South-Centralregion have not only diversified their economicactivities beyond traditional agriculture but havealso promptly tapped into the wealth of sea resourcesand transformed them into a variety of products. Theactivities of plotting and processing seafood not onlyprovide a variety of food sources for family mealsbut have also become the main economic sector,bringing significant income to the fishermen there.Recognizing the importance of this economicactivity, the Nguyen Dynasty also paid attention toits management through various policies. Byexploring the historical documents of the NguyenDynasty, the article will focus on elucidating theexploitation and processing of seafood by fishermenin the South-Central region in the 19th century, aswell as the policies of the dynasty regarding thisactivity. This is one of the pieces of evidencedemonstrating the exercise of sovereignty in theeconomy by our ancestors under the Nguyen era,while also providing a basis for the ongoing struggleto protect our maritime sovereignty today.