Brackish water and marine aquaculture: New crop expectations

(Quang Ngai Newspaper) - From before the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025 until now, aquaculture farmers in the province have been excited because of their good income. Currently, localities are focusing on planting aquaculture crops with many expectations for the new year.

Cobia is in season and has a good price.

Although it is not yet the peak harvest season, since before Tet until now, market demand has increased, so cage seafood farmers in Ly Son have taken advantage of the opportunity to harvest and sell to traders. Currently, the price of cobia is high, so farmers are very excited.

Since the Lunar New Year, many traders have hired boats to go to the aquaculture cages of Ly Son people to buy cobia and bring them to the mainland for consumption. Mr. Pham Van Tham, in Dong An Hai village, said that his family raises 40 cages of cobia, grouper, and lobster. Recently, I sold about 3 tons of cobia. The price that traders buy at the cages is 170,000 VND/kg, so there is a profit. “Currently, it is not the peak harvest season. However, due to the strong market for cobia, farmers have proactively sold batches of fish that have reached the weight of 5-6kg/fish. Those who sell in large quantities call traders to come to the cages to weigh them, while those who sell in small quantities and infrequently bring them to the port for sale,” Mr. Tham shared.

Ly Son people harvest cobia to sell to traders.

Ly Son district currently has more than 1,710 fish and shrimp cages of 57 aquaculture households at sea, with an area of ​​12 hectares. Most of the cage systems are being converted to new cages, applying environmentally friendly technology. The species raised are also more diverse, such as cobia, grouper, raft, pomfret, lobster.

According to the Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Ly Son District, Pham Thi Huong, cage aquaculture is a new direction in the district's economic development. In recent times, the district has paid attention to supporting people with many preferential policies, so the local cage aquaculture industry is increasingly developing. In recent years, farmers have gained a lot of experience, raising a number of high-value seafood species that are favored by the market, so farmers have made a profit. In addition, this year's crop season, the weather is favorable, fish have few diseases, the market is strong, prices are higher than last year, helping farmers have a good income.

Focus on brackish water aquaculture

According to the seasonal schedule of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the first brackish water aquaculture season of the year starts in February. Therefore, since after the Lunar New Year until now, aquaculture households in localities have been focusing on cleaning ponds and preparing for the new crop. The main farming objects are white-leg shrimp and snails. Along with the careful preparation of the people, the agricultural sector and local authorities have provided specific instructions on the seasonal schedule, farming techniques, and quality of the breeds...

Snail pond of Mr. Nguyen Bao, in Duc Minh commune (Mo Duc).

Mr. Nguyen Bao, in Van Ha village, Duc Phong commune (Mo Duc) currently has 4 aquaculture ponds in Minh Tan Bac village, Duc Minh commune with a total area of ​​12 thousand square meters (3,000m2/pond). Previously, Mr. Bao raised white-leg shrimp in this area, but in recent years he has switched to raising snails. Currently, Mr. Bao has raised 3 snail ponds with 250,000 larvae and is cleaning the remaining ponds to transfer snails from other ponds, creating a new farming environment, helping snails develop quickly and limiting diseases.

According to statistics from the provincial Department of Fisheries, currently in the province there are about 84.5 hectares of brackish water aquaculture for the winter crop of 2024 still being raised, of which 44.9 hectares are for shrimp farming; 39.6 hectares are for snail farming, concentrated in Mo Duc district and Duc Pho town. In 2025, the provincial fisheries sector aims to raise nearly 440 hectares of brackish water and marine aquaculture; the output will reach more than 9,500 tons.

Mr. Bao shared that the most important step in a new crop is to clean the pond. Because after a crop, all the waste, excess food, pathogens... accumulate at the bottom of the pond. If the pond renovation process is not good, it will cause the shrimp to grow slowly and some diseases to occur.

According to snail farmers, the price of snails has been quite high since before Tet. Currently, snails cost 280,000 VND/kg (100 snails/kg), helping farmers earn a high income. Therefore, farmers expect this new crop to be very successful.

To effectively raise aquatic products, the provincial agricultural sector has recommended that people follow the crop calendar, ensure the farming process, and monitor weather developments to proactively prevent diseases. At the same time, the use of food and products used in aquaculture must ensure quality, and not use antibiotics or chemicals in the list of prohibited uses issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article and photos: H.HOA - X.THIEN

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Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/kinh-te/bien-kinh-te-bien/202502/nuoi-thuy-san-nuoc-lo-tren-bien-ky-vong-vu-moi-54914ca/