Sustainable and responsible fisheries: Aquaculture combined with tourism

Cage aquaculture associated with tourism

Bài liên quan

Sustainable and responsible fisheries: Orientation for an ocean economic center

Long Son island commune at the Cha Va river estuary (Vung Tau city) is known as the "kingdom" of oysters. This place is considered an "oyster granary" supplying the Southeast market. Long Son oyster is not only rich in meat, delicious, and fatty, but also rich in nutrition, safe, and hygienic.

It is estimated that in Long Son commune alone, there are more than 300 farming facilities with nearly 14,000 farming cages on the Cha Va, Dinh, and Rang rivers. Many aquatic species have high economic value, such as oyster, cobia, snubnose pompano, and pearl grouper. Output is estimated at over 20,000 tons/year.

Among them, oyster is the main species raised in cages here. Each crop, an oyster farming household can harvest 50–60 tons of whole shelled oysters. The selling price fluctuates around VND 20,000–22,000/kg. After deducting all costs, farmers still earn about 40% of total revenue.

Mr. Nguyen Quy Trong Binh, Director of Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative, said that the unit is researching and investing in technology to process oysters for takeaway sales and export.

In recent years, Long Son has also been known as an attractive ecotourism destination of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative has put into operation a culinary and resort area on the river, right in the farming area near the foot of Cha Va bridge.

Coming here, tourists will visit the aquaculture area on the river and experience raising oysters and fish of all kinds. In addition to directly enjoying the seafood here, tourists can experience standup paddleboarding services, stay overnight, etc.

Vung Tau city is also planning to open source tours in Long Son island commune with three highlights: Long Son Big House, salt-making experience, and sightseeing and enjoying cuisine on the Cha Va river.

"With this model, Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative is well performing the consumption of aquaculture products while attracting tourists and creating tourist highlights. The model not only contributes to promoting the local economy but also promotes responsible agriculture for the province," said Ms. Tran Thi Thu Huong, Head of Vung Tau City Economics Department.

Marine farming still has a lot of geographical balance

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is assessed as a place with diverse farming objects and areas. Blessed by nature, the province has about 306 km of coastline, mainly beaches. Many locations are very suitable for marine farming.

However, currently, there are only six households doing marine farming with an area of 2 hectares in Ben Dam Bay area, Con Dao district. The main aquatic species raised by these six households are grouper, cobia, pomfret, ornate spiny lobster, slipper lobster, etc. Seafood here is usually harvested after 4–8 months.

According to Mr. Le Van Phong, Chairman of the Con Dao District People's Committee, these marine farming households must commit to using fish food made entirely from 100% natural trash fish and not using industrial food or chemicals in the farming process in existing rafts.

"The district pays special attention to the marine tourism economy associated with conservation and the farming for marine seafood exploitation, which does not conflict with the environment. This is a big problem, so it is being studied and evaluated overall," Mr. Phong shared.

Many fisheries experts assume that Ba Ria-Vung Tau needs to increase marine farming to be worthy of favorable conditions and supplement the output of the declining fishing sector.

Talking with reporters from Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thi, Deputy Director of the Provincial Sub-Department of Fisheries, said that Ba Ria-Vung Tau develops an integrated ocean economy, so it is difficult to expand the farming area and region.

"The number of fishing vessels transporting goods into and out of ports is quite large, which greatly affects marine farming. Marine farming must be in harmony with tourism and national security issues, so it needs to be carefully calculated, focused, and sustainable," Mr. Thi said.

Marine farming in Ba Ria-Vung Tau is oriented to be in association with absolute environmental protection and must be combined with tourism to aim for marine ecotourism. Tourists can come and check-in at these types of aquaculture.