Villagers established a "village covenant" to protect tadpoles and fish.

The people of Nghe An highlands have been closely connected to the streams from generation to generation. Because of this, aquatic species such as fish and tadpoles have become a source of food and income for many households. However, as people's living standards have improved, they have mainly turned to "clean" products from the streams, so exploitation has also occurred frequently with more destructive methods.

The lives of people in the highlands have long been associated with catching fish and tadpoles in streams. Photo: Dao Tho

With high prices and only available seasonally, aquatic species considered specialties such as cool fish and tadpoles are even more valuable. According to our research, the current market price for 1 kg of cool fish is 300,000 VND, tadpoles are 100-150,000 VND/kg. Cool fish can be exploited all year round, but stream tadpoles are only available seasonally from January to March. Therefore, when the season comes, people in the highland streams are busy bringing tools to dig.

Signs prohibiting people from fishing in their village in Xoong Con. Photo: Dao Tho

To protect the aquatic resources of their area, for nearly 5 years now, the people of Xoong Con village (Luu Kien commune - Tuong Duong) have together established a "village covenant" prohibiting people from other places from fishing and exploiting in any form.

In this village, we observed many neatly hung wooden signs with the words: "All other local people are prohibited from fishing."

According to the locals, these signs were put up nearly 2 years ago. This is a message to warn strangers from coming to the village stream to catch fish and tadpoles.

Xoong Con villagers go to collect stream tadpoles. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Kha Van Thuong - head of Xoong Con village said that the village is located on the territory of two streams flowing through, Nam Can and Nam Khien. Although there are no big fish in these streams, there are a lot of tadpoles and fish. However, in recent years, many people from other villages of the commune and neighboring districts have also come to fish. More dangerously, they also use electric shock to destroy aquatic resources. Since last year, the village has discovered more than 10 cases of fishing by electric shock, then reported to the commune authorities for handling.

High-priced fresh fish are sought after by many people. Photo: Dao Tho

According to Mr. Kha Van Thuong, Xoong Con village has 216 households with more than 900 people. For a long time, everyone has lived and caught fish and tadpoles on these two streams. Fearing that aquatic resources would be depleted, everyone gathered together and proposed the above "village covenant". "We do this only in the hope that people from other places will not use electric shock to destroy fish and tadpoles" - Mr. Thuong added.

Ms. Lo Thi Binh, a person who specializes in scooping tadpoles for sale, told us that during tadpole season, she can scoop up 5 kg a day using a traditional Thai scoop.

Stream tadpoles are also a sought-after "specialty" this season. Photo: Dao Tho

However, there were times when outsiders brought in electric shocks to catch fish and tadpoles, causing mass deaths, making the villagers very upset. On favorable days, despite the hardships of wading through the streams, her family could still earn 300,000-500,000 VND. “Before, when there were still a lot of fish and tadpoles, we could just go around here every day to catch them. But now we have to travel all day to get back. Since the ban on people from other places coming here to fish, we all agree and support very much. Because this is a source of food and income for many households,” said Ms. Binh.

Women in Xoong Con village use a basket to scoop fish and tadpoles. Photo: Dao Tho

Thus, it can be seen that, by establishing the "village covenant", the people of Xoong Con village have protected part of the natural aquatic resources. This is also a way to prevent destructive fishing.