The effectiveness of conservation of cool fish resources in Quy Chau

Nam Cuom Stream originates from a stream deep in the core area of ​​Pu Huong Nature Reserve. In Thai language, Pu Huong means big mountain. This big mountain range is the common name of a large area that stretches across the border between Quy Hop, Quy Chau and Tuong Duong districts.

The Nam Cuom River is clear all year round, with lush trees, making it an ideal habitat for stream fish such as: mackerel, eel, loach, etc. This is also a source of water for daily life and irrigation for the lush green rice fields in Cuom and Chao villages of Dien Lam commune.

This stream is like a communal “pond” of the village, the aquatic resources are like a gift from nature bestowed upon the households living along the stream when life was difficult in the past. However, when the local people used destructive fishing tools such as electric shock and dynamite, the aquatic resources in Nam Cuom were almost exhausted.

Mr. Lang Van Dong - Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Dien Lam commune said: Faced with the reality of the beginning of depletion of aquatic resources in streams and creeks, the Party Committee and the commune government saw the need to conserve the aquatic resources of cool fish and other fish species in the Nam Cuom stream. Luckily, at this time, people participated in a study tour to a commune of Tuong Duong district - a locality that has developed a project to conserve cool fish.

After that tour, at the People's Council meeting at the end of 2022, the project "Conservation and development of aquatic resources of Mat fish in Nam Cuom stream associated with community ecotourism in Dien Lam commune" was approved and received the consensus and support of the People's Council delegates.

When starting to implement, the entire grassroots political system got involved by issuing a notice prohibiting fishing activities using toxic chemicals, explosives, electric shocks and other destructive means. The regulations issued were of a strict deterrent nature such as: Outsiders fishing in Dien Lam commune will be expelled from the area. Local people fishing in violation of regulations will have their fishing tools confiscated and be administratively fined.

After 1.5 years of building the model, when surveying with the naked eye, you can see many schools of cool fish swimming under the clear water. Every time people and tourists come here, they just need to drop a little rice bran and they will see schools of fish floating up to eat, everyone is excited. The model has welcomed many groups of tourists to come and take pictures.

Since the beginning of 2024, local authorities and staff of the Cuom Village Management Board have tried to cast nets in the streams. Each batch brings in 1.5 to 2 kg of cool fish, sly fish, etc.

The initial effectiveness of the model has shown an effective direction in the conservation and development of indigenous aquatic resources in Quy Chau. In the coming time, Dien Lam commune in particular and Quy Chau district in general will continue to replicate models of fish protection in streams associated with the development of eco-tourism.