Application of scientific and technological advances in the fisheries industry

With the advantage of a long coastline, many rivers, lakes, swamps, and a large water surface area, aquaculture is one of the strengths of Nghe An province. To further promote that potential, in recent years, high technology in the aquaculture industry has been gradually applied in practice and achieved some great results.

Nghe An currently has 4,301 ships, of which 99 have a capacity of over 400CV for offshore fishing, fully equipped with modern machinery and equipment such as walkie-talkies, GPS, detectors, etc. In particular, in Quynh Long commune (Quynh Luu), a horizontal detector has been tested that can detect schools of fish with a diameter of about 800 meters, nearly 10 times higher than a vertical detector. Many models with high fishing efficiency, low cost, and high income have been built, such as the "trawling net for tuna and mackerel" model; applying "seine winch". The seafood exploitation industry is rapidly changing towards going offshore, increasing the structure of products with export value, innovating and applying science, so the products are better preserved and have more value. Along with exploitation, protecting aquatic resources is extremely necessary. The province has organized and mobilized fishermen to release trawls, artificial reefs, release shrimp and fish fry into the sea; at the same time, protect breeding grounds, direct fishermen to exploit in the right season, prevent diseases in aquaculture; strengthen propaganda among the people, launch the "All people participate in protecting aquatic resources" campaign, annually organize training for fishermen on fishing safety.

Harvesting white leg shrimp in Quynh Luu.Photo: Cong Sang

In aquaculture, the application of high technology has had a significant change. That is the diversity of farming objects, farming forms, opening a new direction for the aquaculture industry. Some species with economic value are focused on farming, gradually replacing less effective species such as red tilapia, monosex tilapia, eel farming, giant freshwater prawn, crab, tidal clam, scad, tra fish...

Grasping the strong growth in aquaculture, companies, stations, and farms producing aquatic and marine products in Nghe An have promptly increased production capacity and raised all kinds of fry to supply to farmers. Every year, the amount of fry produced is over 400 million, mainly species: grass carp, common carp, silver carp, monosex tilapia. In particular, our province has completed and transferred the technology of producing monosex tilapia and sea bass. Currently, Nghe An is the only North Central province leading in sea bass seed production to provide enough seeds for commercial sea bass farming areas in the province and other provinces. Regarding brackish water aquaculture, typically in 2010, Nghe An mastered science and technology and provided 100% of white-leg shrimp seeds and 70% of black tiger shrimp seeds for localities as well as for export to the northern provinces.

In addition, in Nghe An, many aquaculture models have appeared with high economic efficiency. Typically, there are the models of "High-yield black snakehead fish farming", "Commercial red tilapia farming in earthen ponds", "Green-legged shrimp farming in rice fields" and "Salmon farming in Ky Son" which have created a new direction for the aquaculture industry. In which, the model of "Salmon farming in Ky Son" is one of the great successes for the aquaculture industry of the province. Although the farming techniques are strict and the temperature must be suitable, the aquaculture industry has absorbed the techniques and technology of salmon farming and has successfully raised salmon in Ky Son, opening up new opportunities for economic development in the highland communes.

A great success in the aquaculture sector is the research and use of biological products to prevent diseases and improve the environment. Lymmozyme and WSR are a mixture of natural aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, enzymes and micronutrients. They have the function of accelerating the decomposition of excess organic waste in the pond, inhibiting the growth of bacteria that are not beneficial to the environment by competitively eliminating harmful bacteria and improving water quality. WEGH biological fertilizer is used to color the pond water, increasing the pH of the pond. The effect of coloring the water is to create conditions for plankton to grow, reduce water clarity, block light, limit the growth of algae and bottom algae, reduce water temperature fluctuations, and increase oxygen in the pond water. WEGH biofertilizer also has the effect of cleaning the pond, due to the rapid increase of beneficial bacteria in the pond water, they convert indigestible substances into easily digestible substances to help algae grow. The periodic use of biological products helps farmers reduce production costs, because farmers reduce the water change cycle, reduce the cost of using chemicals to prevent and treat diseases and the cost of chemicals to improve the environment.

Along with the expansion of aquaculture areas and forms, the processing industry of Nghe An province has recently focused on investment. Traditional products such as fish sauce, shrimp-fish paste, whole sour shrimp paste, dried shrimp, seasoned fish, salted fish for export, fish cakes... have gradually affirmed their quality and price in the market. The building of product brands has also been of interest to processing establishments. Up to now, most enterprises have built and registered product brands. Many processing establishments have invested in upgrading and expanding production premises, diversifying products and equipment.

The development of the aquaculture industry depends on many natural and human factors... Among them, the most decisive factor is still the application of high technology in this field. It can be said that thanks to the application of high technology and scientific and technical advances, the aquaculture industry of Nghe An has many strong changes, creating production activities with high economic efficiency, bringing income and jobs to a large number of rural people. Nghe An aquaculture is increasingly affirming itself as one of the key sectors of the province's agriculture.

Center for Science and Technology Application