FISHERMAN’S HANDBOOK On Typhoons and Strong Winds in Vietnam in Winds Strong and Typhoons On International Environment and Disaster Management (IEDM) Laboratory Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies KYOTO UNIVERSITY FISHERMAN’S HANDBOOK Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501 Japan On Typhoons and Strong Winds in Vietnam http://www.iedm.ges.kyoto-u.ac.jp Map of the sea regions of Vietnam Team (Source: http://www.lyson.org) Kieu Thi Kinh Nguyen Huy Rajib Shaw Acknowledgements This research is made by Kieu Thi Kinh with the support from the JENESYS Exchange program scholarship in Kyoto University, which is highly acknowledged. The publication is made possible through the Kyoto University President’s Fund. Contact Rajib Shaw Associate Professor Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies KYOTO UNIVERSITY Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JAPAN Tel/ Fax: 81-75-753-5708 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.iedm.ges.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ FISHERMAN’S HANDBOOK On Typhoons and Strong Winds in Vietnam Handbook 3 4 Fisherman’s Handbook 5 6 Fisherman’s Handbook 7 8 Fisherman’s Handbook 9 10 Fisherman’s Handbook 11 12 Fisherman’s Handbook 13 14 Fisherman’s Handbook 15 16 Fisherman’s Handbook 17 18 Fisherman’s Handbook 19 20 Fisherman’s Handbook 21 22 Fisherman’s Handbook 23 24 Fisherman’s Handbook 25 26 Fisherman’s Handbook 27 28 Fisherman’s Handbook 29 30 Fisherman’s Handbook 30 Foreword The fisheries sector contributes significantly to the economy of Vietnam and provides employment opportunities to thousands of people. Conversely, the increase in the number of typhoons in the country has led to severe impacts in the economic, social and environmental sectors in the past. This ongoing trend challenges the coastal population, particularly the fishing communities which are considered to be the most vulnerable. In order to mitigate damages due to typhoons as well as to protect fishing communities, fishermen are required to have a good preparation and understanding to cope with future strong wind-related disasters. This handbook is intended as an easily accessible reference guide for fishermen and their colleagues before and during disasters. It contents are divided into three main parts: • Introduction • Inland activities • At sea activities The handbook provides some skills and preparation activities that the fishermen should learn and practice during their daily activities and typhoon time. The handbook also provides some information on the core governmental regulations and other information on havens for sheltering, coastal stations, which are useful for each fishing trip. This handbook aims to stimulate communication among fishing communities to share their knowledge, especially their experiences, with each other towards safer communities. This handbook is not the ultimate safety guide for the fishers, but this is the very first step to enhance the awareness of the fishing communities, their associations, and related government departments. Hopefully, this handbook will contribute, even in a small way, to enhance the disaster awareness of Vietnamese fishermen for their safety from typhoons and strong wind-related disasters. Rajib Shaw Associate Professor Kyoto University Handbook 3 How To Use This Handbook 1. How the handbook can be distributed to fishermen In the context of Vietnam where fishermen work closely with officials of the Aquatic Product Agency, the officials can distribute the handbook to the fishermen. However one of the most efficient ways of handbook distribution is via training courses for fishermen related to typhoon disaster mitigation and prevention, and through the fishermen’s association and other related associations. 2. How fishermen can use the handbooks The handbook contains 3 main parts and the fishermen should read from part 1 to 3 carefully. The fisherman can also refer to each part directly in case of emergency. There are some blank parts in this book where fishermen can write down the relevant experiences by enquiring others. It is suggested that the fishermen should use this handbook daily. Once the handbook is received, every fisherman is encouraged to share the information in the handbook to their colleagues and their families. 3. Stay up to date This handbook is updated from time to time thus all feedbacks on this book are welcomed to be sent to the following address: Ms. Kieu Thi Kinh (E-mail: [email protected]) 4 Fisherman’s Contents 1. INTRODUCTION --------------------------------------------- 7 2. INLAND ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------ 9 2.1. Normal time -------------------------------------------- 9 2.1.1. Update weather forecast ---------------------------- 9 2.1.2. Necessary kits for a ship before the voyage ---------- 10 2.1.3. Regulations before going to the sea ------------------ 11 2.1.4. Additional Preparedness ---------------------------- 11 2.1.5. Conduct emergency drills ---------------------------- 13 2.2. Typhoon time ------------------------------------------- 14 2.2.1. Before the typhoon --------------------------------- 14 2.2.2. Typhoon signal gun --------------------------------- 15 2.2.2. During typhoon time -------------------------------- 16 2.2.3. After typhoon --------------------------------------- 17 3. AT SEA ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------- 18 3.1. Normal time -------------------------------------------- 18 3.1.1. Update weather forecast ---------------------------- 18 3.1.2. Daily check ------------------------------------------ 19 3.2. Typhoon time ------------------------------------------- 20 3.2.1. Before the typhoon --------------------------------- 20 3.2.2. During typhoon time -------------------------------- 23 3.2.3. After the typhoon ----------------------------------- 27 Summary ------------------------------------------------------ 29 Further information -------------------------------------------- 30 Handbook 5 List of Figures Figure 1. Number of typhoons and tropical depressions in the sea regions of Vietnam from 1961 to 2010 ---------------------- 7 Figure 2. Anchoring safely ------------------------------------------ 22 Figure 3. Steering ship from typhoons, tropical depressions ------------ 23 Figure 4. How to escape typhoon center region ----------------------- 24 Figure 5. Steering ship to prevent from high waves -------------------- 24 List of Tables Table 1. Occurrences of typhoons and tropical depressions in different sea regions of Vietnam ------------------------------------- 7 Table 2. Damages due to severe typhoons in Vietnam from 2005-2009 -- 8 Table 3. Necessary kits for a ship before voyage ---------------------- 10 Table 4. Shooting positions of typhoon gun signal in Vietnam ---------- 15 Table 5. Coastal stations in Vietnam -------------------------------- 19 Table 6. Places for sheltering -------------------------------------- 20 Table 7. Information of SAR Center --------------------------------- 26 6 Fisherman’s 1. INTRODUCTION Typhoons can cause great damages to lives and properties: Especially in the context of climate change, typhoons may become more frequent and intense. The occurrence of typhoons recorded in Vietnam stands as the third most frequent amongst Southeast Asian countries. 60 North Central South 50 40 30 20 10 0 1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2010 Figure 1 Number of typhoons and tropical depressions in the sea regions of Vietnam from 1961 to 2010 Figure 1 presents that the number of typhoons has increased significantly during the last 50 years, particularly in the south region. The occurrences of typhoons and tropical depressions are different from north to south region as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Occurrences of typhoons and tropical depressions in different sea regions of Vietnam Quang Ninh - Nghe An - Quang Tri - Binh Dinh - Binh Thuan - Month Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Quang Ngai Ninh Thuan Ca Mau East Sea Jan 3 Feb Mar 1 Apr 1 1 May 2 0 2 June 9 1 4 2 1 3 July 27 4 1 1 0 1 Aug 23 11 6 1 0 Sep 20 15 18 2 0 Oct 5 11 11 21 4 Nov 1 0 3 22 9 1 Dec 0 0 1 4 0 Total 85 42 46 53 19 8 Source: Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Vietnam Handbook 7 Based on the distribution of typhoons in Table 1, the period from June to November can be considered as the stormy season in Vietnam. As for the regional occurrences, the peak season for typhoons in the northern, central, and southern parts is August, October, and November, respectively. However recent typhoon records have shown uncertainties of typhoon occurrences and changing paths. For instance, in March 2005, there was a typhoon named Roke that occurred in East Sea region. Another typical example is typhoon Chanchu which struck the sea region of Vietnam quite early in May 2006 and its path was difficult to predict and resulted in the huge loss of offshore fishermen’s lives. Table 2: Damages due to severe typhoons in Vietnam from 2005-2009 Damage Typhoon Time Destroyed Economic losses Deaths houses Sunk ships (million USD) Ketsana September 2009 172 472,457 977 734 Hagupit September 2008 41 11,690 38 53 Durian December 2006 85 244,905 1,228 371 Xangsane October 2006 72 349,348 951 533 Damrey September 2005 68 118,269 65 180 Source: Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control, Vietnam The fishermen are one of the most vulnerable groups once typhoons occur. Typhoons out at sea cause large waves, heavy rain and high winds, disrupting maritime travel and, at times, causing ships to sink. As a typhoon approaches land, its wind produces a rush of seawater called a storm surge that can devastate coastal areas. Houses were