Investing in net houses, Nghe An shrimp farmers adapt to hot weather
In the context of increasingly complex climate change, the hot weather mixed with sudden thunderstorms are posing many challenges to the brackish and saltwater shrimp farming industry in Nghe An. Faced with this situation, the model of shrimp farming in net houses - a technical solution has been proving its outstanding effectiveness.
Net house model helps shrimp grow stably
Shrimp farming has long been a strength of coastal localities in Nghe An. However, in the summer, high temperatures and solar radiation can cause sudden changes in the water environment in ponds, causing thermal shock in shrimp, increasing the risk of disease and economic losses. Many farmers have had to abandon their crops or face heavy losses.
To overcome this, many shrimp farmers in Nghe An have boldly switched to the model of raising shrimp in net houses - a solution that can regulate temperature, limit negative impacts from the weather, and protect farmed shrimp from the nursery stage to sale.
A typical example is the model of Mr. Nguyen Cuong in Hamlet 9, An Chau Commune (former Dien Chau District). With a total area of 3 hectares of water surface for shrimp farming, he invested in building a net house system covering more than 1 hectare of ponds for shrimp farming in the initial stage. This system includes a sturdy steel frame, UV-resistant polyethylene net and waterproof bottom lining, ensuring a stable living environment for shrimp.
According to Mr. Cuong, using sunshade nets helps reduce pond water temperature by 3-4 degrees Celsius compared to outdoor ponds, while limiting the growth of algae and harmful microorganisms. Shrimp grow quickly, have fewer diseases, shorten farming time and increase the number of farming crops to 3-4 crops/year instead of 1-2 crops as before.
Although the initial investment cost for the greenhouse system is not small, with hundreds of millions of VND/ha, the economic benefits are very clear. Each year, Mr. Cuong sells 4-5 batches of shrimp, with higher and more stable productivity than traditional farming.
“The ideal water temperature for shrimp farming is around 30 degrees Celsius, so the pond is also equipped with a water fan and aeration system to maintain the amount of oxygen in the pond. Combined with a thermometer that regularly measures the water, farmers can easily adjust the temperature and water quality to a level suitable for shrimp growth. When the water temperature is well controlled, shrimp grow quickly, reduce stress and minimize disease. Commercial shrimp have uniform size, beautiful color and higher quality. The net house not only helps protect against the summer sun, but also keeps warm in the winter, creating conditions for year-round shrimp farming. High efficiency but investment conditions are still a barrier for many small shrimp farmers,” Mr. Cuong shared.
Mr. Cuong also said that for outdoor ponds, it is necessary to always provide enough water, ensure a depth of 1.2 - 1.4m and increase the aeration fan to cool the pond to avoid temperature stratification, as well as provide oxygen for farmed shrimp.
Not only Mr. Cuong's family, in Nghe An, there are currently 105 facilities applying high-tech shrimp farming models with a total area of over 202 hectares, including 51 facilities raising in floating cages and net houses, achieving a productivity of 15 - 20 tons/ha/crop.
According to Mr. Le Van Huong - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control, investing in shrimp farming in net houses is an inevitable trend for shrimp farmers to adapt to climate change.
Observations show that the design of shrimp net houses is relatively simple, including a sturdy steel or aluminum frame, a shade net that can filter 30-50% of sunlight, minimizing the impact of radiation. The net system is anchored with cables to withstand strong winds and storms.
Changing mindset to develop sustainable aquaculture
The model of shrimp farming in net houses is not only a technical breakthrough but also a change in the production mindset of the people. Instead of depending entirely on nature, farmers proactively create an optimal farming environment, minimize risks and aim for long-term efficiency.
This is also a direction that is consistent with the sustainable aquaculture development strategy of Nghe An province in the coming period. Authorities at all levels are actively supporting people to access preferential loans, transfer technology and expand the net house model in localities with suitable conditions.
In the context of increasingly complex climate change, innovative models such as shrimp net houses not only help people "live with the weather" but also increase product value and contribute to protecting the ecological environment.
Shrimp farming in net houses has been applied by Nghe An farmers for many years, has been proving its clear effectiveness, and has been noticed and gradually applied by many coastal localities in Nghe An. Along with the synchronous support mechanism from the State, this model is spreading more and more widely, changing the situation of coastal shrimp farming, thereby creating a stable, safe and sustainable production value chain./.
