The project to "preserve" fish
In the early days of 2024, as spring began to appear in the vibrant red blossoms of the poinsettia, the peach branches started to bud, and the mustard fields along the alluvial plains began to fade, we had the opportunity to visit Dien Lam. Standing on the suspension bridge in Cuom village, looking down at the clear blue stream, schools of catfish, gobies, and other fish frolicked and swam about; the shimmering silver tails of the catfish delighted everyone.
Chairman of the Dien Lam Commune People's Committee, Nguyen Van Dung, excitedly said, "It's a feast for the eyes and the stomach. I never expected that in just one year, the catfish would regenerate and develop so quickly. It's worth all the hard work of campaigning and mobilizing the villagers to protect the fish stock; the officials stayed up late at night guarding the streams and ravines to protect the fish."
Going back to 2022, the freshwater fish population in Nam Cuom, as well as other fish species, was depleted. The cause was indiscriminate fishing, overexploitation, and the use of electric shock devices, hunting guns, and gill nets to catch them. The muddy streams and schools of fish, large and small, were all caught and wiped out.
“The Nặm Cươm catfish is delicious, nutritious, and sells at a good price, so people overfish it. If this situation continues, the catfish will certainly be wiped out, affecting the livelihoods of the people as well as the environment and ecology of the village. Therefore, in December 2022, the People's Committee of Diên Lãm commune issued a plan for “Conservation and development of the Nặm Cươm catfish aquatic resource associated with community-based ecotourism in Diên Lãm commune”. Accordingly, the goal is to regenerate aquatic resources, develop this local specialty fish in conjunction with community-based tourism development. From there, create sustainable livelihoods for the people of Diên Lãm.”
According to regulations, all forms of fishing are strictly prohibited on the Nặm Cươm river for 1.5 years. Violators will be punished according to regulations. Furthermore, the plan strictly prohibits the use of toxic chemicals, explosives, electric shock, and other destructive methods in fishing. People from outside the area who fish in Diên Lãm commune will be expelled.
For households within the commune, aquatic resources belong to the entire community. Cases of illegal fishing, such as using electric shock devices or explosives, will result in the confiscation of equipment and administrative penalties. Furthermore, each village has established protected areas for aquatic resources along specific sections of streams. All these areas are marked with signs to inform the public.
Initially, when the project was first implemented, it faced considerable opposition from the local people. This was because the villagers relied entirely on the stream and the readily available fish and shrimp resources for their livelihood.
However, "slow and steady wins the race," coupled with propaganda and mobilization, along with monitoring, inspection, and even strong sanctions in handling violations, people have gradually become self-aware that protecting and restoring aquatic resources in streams and creeks is what benefits them, so they voluntarily comply and now even monitor each other.
Restoration linked to ecotourism development.
The clear, cool streams meander around the villages, creating a serene and poetic atmosphere in the Dien Lam area. The alluvial plains along the streams, with their lush green gardens of mustard greens, cabbage, kohlrabi, and other vegetables, dotted with white plum blossoms and pale pink peach blossoms, make for a charming destination.
In particular, the dense network of streams and the delicious, nutritious local fish species have created a unique culinary tradition for the Thai people in this area. Therefore, Dien Lam has great potential for developing ecotourism.
Mr. Lu Van Hue, Secretary of the Party branch of Cuom village, said: “Recently, with the protected catfish population and the clear waters of the Nam Cuom stream, many people from other localities have come to Cuom village to visit and experience it. Especially on weekends, visitors from the town and from far away come to the village to learn about the local culture, take photos with the ancient persimmon tree and mango tree, and enjoy the cuisine of the Thai people in Dien Lam.”
This has led to the development of livelihoods through ecotourism linked to the development of aquatic resources, as outlined in the project proposed by the Dien Lam commune government.
"After 1.5 years of keeping the fish as part of the project, we will research and select a section of the stream with beautiful terrain, about 500m long, and build some rest shelters, and implement some food and beverage services to serve tourists who come to visit and experience the area."
"Hopefully, by 2025, the project's goals will become a reality, and the model of conserving and developing the aquatic resources of the Nam Cuom stream catfish, combined with community-based ecotourism in Dien Lam commune, will transform the face of this poor commune," shared Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Lam commune.
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