Con Cuong: 'Multiple benefits' from banning illegal fishing

In addition to farming, Mr. La Van Tham in Thai Son 1 village, Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) often uses a net to catch shrimp and fish to improve his meals.

According to him, in the past, "every time you dived into the river, you could touch the fish", but since people started using electric shock to exploit the fish, shrimp and fish have become increasingly scarce.

When there was information that Con Cuong district had regulations strictly prohibiting illegal fishing, Mr. Tham himself strongly supported it.

People of Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) fishing on Giang river. Photo: Ba Hau

Currently, instead of destructive fishing, some households in Mon Son commune have known how to utilize the water resources on the Giang River to develop cage fish farming combined with eco-tourism, contributing to increasing family income.

Mr. Vi Van Doan in Xieng village, Mon Son commune is one of the first people to apply the cage fish farming model on Giang river. With 3 cages in a rolling style, each year Mr. Doan's family supplies the market with about 500 - 600 kg of grass carp and silver carp, earning a profit of over 50 million VND.

“Fish cages on Giang River grow quickly and are less susceptible to disease because the water source here is very secure, and there are abundant plankton and grass as food for fish. Farmers only need to find a safe anchorage in case of floods to be able to successfully raise fish in cages,” said Mr. Doan.

Con Cuong has put up dozens of signs prohibiting illegal fishing. Photo: Huu Vi

Currently, the total area for Con Cuong district to develop aquatic resources is 114.6 hectares. Including two large rivers, Lam River and Giang River, 31 large and small streams such as Khe Choang, Khe Thoi, Khe Kem stream, Ta Bo stream..., 11 reservoirs; each year the total output from aquaculture is more than 302 tons.

Mon Son commune alone is one of the localities with the largest aquaculture area in the district, including the Giang River flowing through the area with a length of more than 30 km. To protect aquatic resources, the commune is doing a good job of propaganda, at the same time stepping up inspection, control, and strict handling of violations and illegal fishing.

Faced with the situation of gradually depleting aquatic resources, Con Cuong district has implemented the "Project for conservation and development of aquatic resources in the district for the period 2015 to 2020". The goal of the project is to restore and regenerate rare aquatic species of high economic value, protect the sustainable ecological environment, and provide clean food for people in and outside the district.

In 2018, the district has expanded the model of protecting aquatic resources under the management of communes and towns with rivers, streams, lakes and dams, strictly handling violations in fishing and exploitation, violations of fisheries laws such as prohibiting the use of explosives, electric shocks, and toxic substances for aquatic exploitation.

At the same time, implementing policies to expand the farming area to 134 hectares, equivalent to raising 50 fish cages with an expected output of 550 tons of clean fish in 2020, with a value of about 16.5 billion VND. In particular, forming spawning grounds for specialty fish species associated with implementing clean farming processes to improve product quality, bringing a clean ecological environment to the tourist district.

Every year, Con Cuong district releases thousands of fish fry into Pha Lai dam to regenerate and develop aquatic resources here. Photo: Ba Hau

The efforts of Con Cuong district have been contributing to the restoration of aquatic resources, preserving the biodiversity of aquatic resources in the area. And more importantly, contributing to changing people's awareness in exploiting and regenerating aquatic resources based on the community.