Spontaneous cage fish farming: both farming and worrying!

With a favorable location, a sheltered area, and a stable water environment for the development of cage fish farming, this profession once brought high income and stable life to the people in coastal areas of Nghi Son town. However, in recent years, this profession has become a concern, even a burden, for many households.

Cage fish farming in Nghi Son commune has many potential risks.

Many hidden risks...

Present in the cage and raft fish farming area in Ngoc lagoon, Nghi Son commune, the atmosphere of aquaculture here is no longer as bustling as in previous years. Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, in Nam Son village, who has nearly 20 years of experience in cage fish farming in the lagoon, said: “When cage fish farming was just starting to take off, the income from this profession was a dream for many households. However, also because of the high profits, the number of spontaneous farming households has increased dramatically. Many consequences have arisen such as high farming density, causing environmental pollution, fish diseases that often kill fish, and fish farmers continuously suffering losses!”

In 2021, Mr. Tuan, like many other households, had to endure a mass fish death. The total number of harvested fish cages of Mr. Tuan's family amounted to tens of tons, the fish died and floated with white bellies. From 6 cages with dozens of cages, now there is only 1 cage with 4 cages left. Mr. Tuan said that he will sell all the remaining cages and aim to invest in raising fish in a new area, outside Me island.

That is for Mr. Tuan, but for other households, although they are losing money, it is very difficult for people to clear the village, because the investment cost of cage farming is very high, when clearing the village, people will get almost nothing. Besides, most of the households are in debt to the bank, to clear the village or move investment to a new area is very difficult, they need support.

Also having the mindset of both raising and worrying, Mr. Dang Van Ty, in Thanh Dinh neighborhood, Hai Thanh ward, is worried: In addition to the problem of environmental pollution, Mr. Ty and other households all came to the profession spontaneously, the farming area is not in the planning, so they always have an insecure mentality, worried about having to dismantle and relocate. Mr. Ty said: "Having stuck with the profession, the amount of money invested in fish cages is very large, now if we have to relocate, we also need a planning location. If we have to dismantle the village, we will almost throw away everything, and the family will be in debt. I hope that the relevant agencies will have a mechanism to support relocation, or dismantle the village, and change suitable jobs for people."

It is known that cage fish farming in Nghi Son town began to develop in the 90s of the last century. Initially, only a few households experimented with cage fish farming in Ngoc lagoon, Nghi Son commune. Due to the profits from large cage fish farming, in the past ten years, households in other coastal wards and communes have spontaneously expanded their scale in both the number of households and cages. For example, in Ngoc lagoon area, the boat anchorage area, Lach Bang fishing port, the channel area along Bang river... According to statistics at the peak period, in 2022, Nghi Son town had a total of 3,589 cages/181 households, with 352 workers.

Solving spontaneous cases

Faced with the complicated situation of spontaneous farming, the problem of uncollected domestic wastewater, the daily washing of large quantities of boats at anchorage areas... makes cage fish farming potentially risky. In addition, households spontaneously expanding their farming scale have encroached on waterways, boat anchorage areas, and the area along the Bang River, hindering the entry and exit of boats.

Faced with the above situation, on March 1, 2022, Nghi Son Town People's Committee issued Plan No. 54/KH-UBND to handle spontaneous aquaculture in Nghi Son Town. The purpose is to prevent, promptly handle and dismantle all spontaneous aquaculture cages that are not in accordance with the planning, ensuring safety in areas where boats are moored, fishing ports and inland waterways at estuaries and river beds. Gradually narrow down and proceed to dismantle all cages and rafts that are not in accordance with the planning.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuong, Chairman of Nghi Son Commune People's Committee, said: Implementing the direction of Nghi Son Town People's Committee on focusing on directing and accelerating the progress of dismantling fish cages, the Commune People's Committee has coordinated with relevant units to propagate and mobilize people to seriously follow the direction. Specifically, after only 2 years from 2022 to 2024, the number of households with 1,702 cages has decreased from 74 households with 23 households with 552 cages.

Recently, following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People's Committee of Nghi Son town, the Thanh Hoa Fishing Port Management Board, together with the functional forces, mobilized and propagated the dismantling and relocation of 40 illegal oyster and mussel farming rafts and arrays encroaching on the water surface. Mr. Le Van Thang, Director of the Thanh Hoa Fishing Port Management Board, affirmed: "The Fishing Port Management Board continues to coordinate with relevant units to resolutely relocate and dismantle all cases of illegal spontaneous aquaculture to ensure the safety of fishing vessels entering and anchoring at the storm shelter".

Article and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nuoi-ca-long-tu-phat-vua-nuoi-vua-lo-219865.htm