Aquaculture on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs: "Double" benefits

(Baonghean.vn) - With over 1,250 medium and small irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs, Nghe An is a province with rich potential for aquaculture development.

Taking advantage of the reservoirs, Thanh Chuong people living around the lakes and dams have carried out aquaculture in many different forms. However, the common point of all forms of farming is that they are spontaneous and small-scale.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Chuong district, management work faces many limitations because people's farming is not concentrated, making it difficult to assess the quality of aquatic products and make annual output statistics. In addition, because of small-scale farming, it has not created a sustainable, branded, and reputable source of aquatic products, and has only been supplied to a fragmented local market, with low economic value. At the same time, there is a risk of affecting the main objective of irrigation reservoirs in the area.

Households raising fish in cages on the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir (Tuong Duong). Photo: Ho Phuong.

As for hydroelectric reservoirs in the western region of Nghe An, although in recent years, aquaculture activities have strongly developed in the form of cage fish farming on the lake bed, but in general, the full potential and advantages have not been exploited.

Hua Na Hydroelectric Lake (Que Phong) with a total lake surface area of ​​up to thousands of hectares stretching across two communes Dong Van and Thong Thu, clean water source, high dissolved oxygen content in water, so it is very favorable for aquaculture.

From a few households raising fish in cages at first, it has now grown to 160 fish cages in the whole district. This number is not commensurate with the potential of the reservoir, but initially shows the feasibility and effectiveness of the aquaculture development direction here. According to actual assessment, each fish cage after 8 months of raising gives an average fish yield of 3 - 3.5 quintals of fish/cage, bringing stable income to many people.

Although the results are positive, it must be recognized that the development of aquaculture in hydroelectric reservoirs such as in Que Phong district still has many shortcomings. Currently, there are no specific regulations binding the responsibilities and obligations of owners to harmonize the interests between aquaculture and ensuring the sustainable goals of hydroelectric reservoirs such as providing energy, providing water for agricultural production, potential for ecotourism, etc.

Because there are no regulations, unfortunate incidents have occurred in the past, such as some people using homemade mines, electric shocks, etc. to exploit aquatic products, affecting the ecology of the lake; or, households raising aquatic products without following the correct procedures and techniques, which can cause environmental pollution.

In addition, cage fish farming is still mostly done in the traditional way, the application of scientific and technological advances is not yet popular, so the farming efficiency is still limited. On the other hand, the traffic system to the reservoir areas is often remote and dangerous, making it difficult to provide fish breeds and transport aquatic products for consumption.

Besides, investment capital for aquaculture activities on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs is still low, while the people's internal resources are limited, so the abundant potential of reservoirs cannot be fully exploited.

A high-yield fish cage on Ban Ve hydroelectric lake (Tuong Duong). Photo: Ho Phuong.

Affirming the benefits of aquaculture on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs; at the same time, to overcome the current shortcomings in aquaculture, Nghe An Aquaculture Sub-Department has established a project to develop aquaculture on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs in Nghe An province until 2020, approved by the Provincial People's Committee No. 4454/QD-UBND on October 1, 2015 with a total implementation cost of 124.5 billion VND.

The general objective of the project is to exploit the potential and harmonize the "dual" benefits from irrigation and hydropower reservoirs in the whole province. Accordingly, it ensures inter-sectoral and inter-regional development of aquaculture while not affecting other uses of the lake such as hydropower, irrigation, domestic water supply, landscape, tourism, etc. At the same time, applying scientific and technological advances to maximize the potential of the surface area of ​​irrigation and aquaculture reservoirs combined with the protection of aquatic resources to create a raw material area to supply local food needs; create jobs for people, contribute to economic development, and ensure political and social security.

Caring for fish in cages on Khe Bo hydroelectric lake (Tuong Duong). Photo: Phuong Chi.

After the project was approved, Tuong Duong was the first district to develop a set of regulations on this issue. Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuong Duong district said: "The whole district currently has 156 fish cages located on hydroelectric reservoirs and irrigation dams such as Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Nam Non, Nam Khun. Worried about the current situation of aquaculture in the area being fragmented, not commensurate with the potential, difficult to manage and having many consequences, as soon as receiving the project, the district's Department of Agriculture advised the District People's Committee to develop a set of regulations on aquaculture management in the area. In which, clearly stipulates what can and cannot be done on hydroelectric reservoirs and irrigation dams, along with strict and legal sanctions. At the same time, based on the common goal in the province's Project, the district is developing a Project on aquaculture development in the district, period 2016 - 2020. This will be an official, scientific and large-scale basis, promising to effectively exploit the potential of reservoirs, creating a stable and sustainable source of livelihood for people.”

To successfully implement the Project on aquaculture development on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs by 2020, it is necessary to implement many solutions synchronously and drastically. Mr. Tran Xuan Hoc - Head of Nghe An Aquaculture Sub-Department said: “The solutions include breeds and farming techniques, focusing on building level 2 hatcheries in areas with large reservoirs to provide local breeds, suitable for ecological conditions; releasing directly into the reservoir in the form of improved extensive farming, combining VAC models or farming in narrow alleys, cage farming. The solution on investment capital will mobilize people's own capital, business capital, local budget, integrating investment programs and projects for the lake area... In addition, it is necessary to speed up the implementation of solutions on science and technology and fishery extension to raise people's awareness, improve farming techniques, limit the use of veterinary drugs and chemicals in farming, increase the application of technological solutions to ensure the ecology of the lake area..."

In particular, regarding the consumption market, the first phase of the project will focus on developing native aquatic products to serve the local market; it is expected that in the next phase, when people have mastered the advances in science and technology, they will determine to raise high-quality aquatic products in a number of suitable reservoirs, linking with restaurants, hotels, and export enterprises in the whole province to consume products right from the beginning of the farming season.

With specific orientations, it is hoped that aquaculture activities on irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs in our province will become increasingly systematic, exploiting all potentials and advantages, creating sustainable livelihoods to escape poverty for the people.

Phuong Chi