Relocating the aquaculture areas

The cage fish farming village on La Nga River, Dinh Quan District

Bien Hoa City reduces then stops the cage fish farming on Cai River

At a survey on the progress of moving cage fish farming and grasping people's thoughts a few weeks ago, Mr. Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bien Hoa City said that the clearance of fish farming on the Cai River is the city’s policy which must be implemented to ensure the clean environment and urban landscape.

In the short term, the city will relocate and temporarily stop raising fish in cages 200m on each side at the proposed location of Thong Nhat Bridge. The remaining areas will gradually reduce in size, and stop raising raft fish by the end of 2023. Regarding the support policy, the city will soon complete and submit the project to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. It is expected that the city will spend about VND40 billion from the budget to support people to relocate and change jobs.

Mr. Vu Dinh Dam, Director of the Eco-Fishery Cooperative (Tan Mai Ward, Bien Hoa City) shared that when he heard that the city would “eliminate” the raft fishing village, he with the cooperative members were quite upset because they did not know what to do, where to do, and how to do. However, when the plan was propagated, the cooperative members agreed to sign a commitment not to develop more rafts fish; move the raft from Tan Mai Ward to the shore of Hiep Hoa Ward. “We are sorry, however, we must implement for the city’s purpose. But we hope that the authorities at all levels consider allowing the cooperative to change its model from raising merchandized fish to raising ornamental fish in combination with business services on the river, adequately supporting households who must stop raising fish without a home on the shore," said Mr. Dam.

Mr. Truong Van Khien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Binh Tan Ward (Bien Hoa City) that before the policy of rearranging the fishing village, Long Binh Tan had 135 households with 248 fishing boats mainly concentrated around Ba Xe Isle. Through many times of propaganda and mobilization, there are still 88 households with 88 rafts, most of which are difficult households. The Ward agrees with the city's policy of stopping aquaculture on rivers, many households also want to go ashore, but people expect adequate support policies so that they can have conditions to improve their lives.

Controlling waste sources

The rearrangement and re-planning of aquaculture areas on the river not only helps farmers reduce risks and improve economic efficiency, but also helps them improve the water environment and create landscapes to exploit tourism and advantages of water navigation.

According to Mr. Tran Trong Toan, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the quality of surface water environment is complicated and unpredictable, especially in aquaculture areas. The results of the monitoring sessions from the beginning of the year until now have shown these problems. If there is no immediate solution to improve the situation, the situation of mass fish death when it rains, the quality of the input water of factories having not guaranteed is understandable.

Therefore, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment proposes the People's Committees of districts and cities to strengthen supervision and guide people to limit waste sources into rivers and streams. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the People's Committee of Dinh Quan District, Dong Nai Nature-Cultural Conservation Area have strengthened propaganda measures and provided technical guidance on aquaculture to ensure the correct of breeding density, and monitor water quality in the area of fish farming in ​​Tri An Lake. People's Committee of Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Water Supply Limited Company also need to strengthen the control of surface water quality before and after treatment to ensure the water quality which supply for people to use following the standards. In which, they should take notice of controlling surface water quality before entering Thien Tan Water Plant, Hoa An Water Pumping Station and Bien Hoa Water Plant.

In the written report on the results of the relocation of fish rafts on La Nga River to the planning area of ​​Tri An Lake, Mr. Ngo Tan Tai, Vice Chairman of Dinh Quan District People's Committee proposed Dong Nai Nature - Culture Conservation Area to sign the agreement on leasing water surface for aquaculture in cages and rafts to households who have entered the planning area, and put up a board banning cage and raft farming in the area subject to relocation so that the households understand and carry out. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development considers issuing certificates of registration of cage aquaculture to households according to the planning. Once registered and certified, households cannot arbitrarily increase cages and rafts. They must comply with regulations on density and environmental sanitation; households without certificates were forced to stop raising fish.

Phan Anh