High-technology sturgeon farming model enhances resilience to natural disasters

Recently to promote production and quality of raised sturgeons, Ngoc Mai Trang Company Limited based in Da Lat city (Lam Dong province) has invested in a high-technology fish farm model.

The farm was constructed in Da Nhim commune (Lac Duong district) with 2 hectares applying high technologies and 3 hectares using traditional farming methods.

Nguyen Dinh Hoang, Director of Ngoc Mai Trang Ltd Company said this high-tech fish farming system comprised globe –shaped tanks witha radius of 6-17m. The system was designed and built in the form of floating cages with high-quality acrylic canvas used as materials.

The bottom of each tank was designed to make it concave to optimize waste treatment and create an optimal environment for fish to swim in circles. At the high-tech fish farming area, the depth of water in the tanks was maintained at 1.4-1.5 meters and they were all installed with oxygen air blowers.

In addition, the high-tech fish farm was connected with a smart-control system to measure temperature, treat water, waste and leftover feed from fish farming. A teeming ecosystem of microorganism was also supplemented scientifically to handle fish waste with the best. Thanks to that, sturgeons could grow in healthy environment conditions.

Khuat Duy Vinh, a manager in charge of farming techniques at the Ngoc Mai Trang Ltd Company, said the water used for the fish tanks was sourced from natural streams. The water was piped into sedimentation tank to be cleaned then pumped directly into the fish tanks.

“The high-tech fish tanks use less water than conventional ones because they are equipped with water-treatment system and circulating flow generators. Lam Dong often faced water shortages when the dry season comes so this fish farming model is effective,” said Khuat Duy Vinh.

Because the tanks were constructed from high-quality Acrylic canvas, far from streams and rivers they could avoid  risks from natural hazards, especially heavy rains and floods, according to Vinh. He said the flood in 2017 destroyed the farms downstream of the river, all of raised fish were washed away or died. Meanwhile thanks to better water treatment the high-tech fish tanks could be constructed proactively, thus stayed safe in the flood.

Currently Ngoc Mai Trang Ltd Company has built dozens of small and large-sized fish tanks and will continues to expand the model. Nguyen Dinh Hoang, Director of Ngoc Mai Trang Ltd Company said each tank could produce up to 6 tons of commercial sturgeon a year. These high-tech sturgeon fish tanks have been put into operation for about 6 months and the fish have grown rapidly.

“These tanks allow us to raise more fish. With spherical and concave bottom combined with circulating flow, sturgeons can swim without hitting the edge of the tank. Therefore, the fish are healthier and grow faster,” Nguyen Dinh Hoang said.

Ngoc Mai Trang Ltd Company is now putting more than 200 tons of commercial sturgeon on the market every year. It expects to supply up to nearly 400 tons of the fish to the consumers by the end of this year and the volume will continue to grow in the following years.

“The model of high-technology sturgeon farming have not only brought high economic efficiency but also used less water and labor while the quality and production have been increased. That’s why we will continue to invest in and expand the model,” Nguyen Dinh Hoang expressed.