The first person to raise grouper in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) – In order to meet domestic and foreign market demand, Mr. Bui Trung Cai, in Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu, Nghe An) brought grouper fish from the sea to test breeding in his home pond.

With 2.7 hectares of land contracted under Decree 64, in 2015, Mr. Bui Trung Cai in Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu)hired machines and workers to clear the ground and dig ponds to raise industrial shrimp and monosex tilapia. In 2016, he boldly introduced grouper from the sea for experimental farming. On a pond area of ​​about 6,000 m2, he raised 3,000 grouper; after 6 months of raising, the fish are now growing well, with an average weight of 600 grams/fish.

"Currently, grouper has the highest value among marine seafood and is very rare, so I decided to find a seaport to buy small grouper to raise in my pond. If successful, the grouper pond will bring in large revenue" - Mr. Cai said.

Grouper currently has the highest price among marine fish species, the price of fish weighing 2 kg or more is 350-370,000 VND/kg. Photo: Viet Hung

According to Mr. Cai, grouper is a type 1 export fish that is popular in domestic and foreign markets because when processed, the fish meat is fragrant, firm, nutritious, and can be used to make many attractive dishes.

Compared to other farmed species, grouper products have not been widely available on the market due to their rarity and higher economic value than other aquatic species. After a while, Mr. Cai said that grouper is easy to raise, can withstand cold well in a pond environment; feed costs are low, and the main feed is small sea fish and sea shrimp bought from fishing boats.

Grouper pond of Mr. Bui Trung Cai's family in Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district. Photo: Viet Hung

It is expected that Mr. Cai's grouper pond will be harvested in the 11th lunar month this year; the average weight of the grouper is 1.8 - 2 kg/fish. With the current market price, small grouper under 1 kg costs 250,000 - 270,000 VND; about 2 kg costs 350,000 - 370,000 VND/kg. With such a high selling price, if this crop is successful, Mr. Cai's family will have an income of over 600 million VND.

In addition to raising grouper for export, Mr. Cai also raises many valuable specialties such as crab, mullet and mackerel; each year he earns hundreds of millions of dong.

Grouper fish is rich in nutrients and is very good for malnourished children, slow-growing fetuses, diabetes, and weakness... Photo: Viet Hung

"If grouper farming is successful, I will expand the farming area, then the market will expand beyond the province, even export abroad" - Mr. Bui Trung Cai shared.

Viet Hung