A dream by the Nam Cuom River

"Capital" of freshwater fish

The Nam Cuom stream originates from many branches deep within the core of the Pu Huong Nature Reserve. The majestic Pu Huong mountain range (meaning "large mountain") is the common name and symbol of a vast area bordering the districts of Quy Hop, Quy Chau, and Tuong Duong ( Nghe An province ).

The Cuom stream, which flows through Dien Lam commune (Quy Chau district, Nghe An province), is tens of kilometers long. From ancient times to the present day, this stream has been considered a habitat for the catfish, as well as many other fish species. The stream also serves as a source of water for daily life, agricultural production, and provides food for the local people.

The People's Committee of Dien Lam commune has put up signs prohibiting fishing.

Walking along the Nam Cuom stream one afternoon in late July 2023, I happened to meet some villagers from Cuom hamlet who were bathing in the stream. Mr. Loc Van Canh, a resident of Cuom hamlet, recounted that Cuom hamlet is the last hamlet in the commune, bordering the buffer zone of the Pu Huong Nature Reserve. Previously, the villagers' economic life mainly depended on catching catfish and many other types of fish in the Nam Cuom stream, logging, and gathering forest products. Mr. Canh then told me about the eating habits, migration patterns, breeding cycle, and dishes made from catfish – a specialty fish of the Dien Lam area.

“The catfish has two egg sacs on either side of its body, the eggs are as small as millet grains. The fish lays one clutch of eggs per year in the spring, from February to March (lunar calendar), hatching thousands of offspring each time. They grow quickly; at six months old, they are the size of a thumb. If well protected, they can grow to over half a kilogram each. Catfish only eat algae and moss, so they are very clean. Their lower jaws are hard and sharp, so when eating, they simply glide close to the rocks in the flowing water, biting hard, leaving many small white marks on the rocks. Catfish also have the characteristic of being in areas with strong currents; if you observe them on a sunny day, you will see schools of them foraging, gliding around, their scales shimmering like silver...” – Mr. Canh, speaking about the catfish.

anh-3(1).jpg — The images of people freely catching fish as they used to see are no longer present.

The Thai people are famous for their delicious dishes made with catfish, such as crispy grilled catfish served with a dipping sauce of salt and chili paste – a mixture of white salt, green chili peppers, and roasted and ground mac khen (wild pepper). They also prepare a soup with wild vegetables like water spinach and catfish with the guts intact, a dish with a distinctive bitter-sweet taste. Furthermore, the Thai people often prepare traditional dishes like "ho moc" or "ho ca nap," specialties of the highland districts. These "ho moc" and "ho ca nap" catfish dishes are special delicacies only available during traditional festivals and holidays in the highland areas.

However, due to overfishing in previous years using methods such as electric shock or dynamite, the Nậm Cướm stream has been almost depleted of catfish, carp, and many other fish species, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem. It has become very difficult for villagers to go down to the stream to catch catfish and other fish species…

Special tour

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Lam commune, recounted that, facing the risk of depletion of aquatic resources, especially the "mat" fish species in recent years, the Party Committee and local government were very concerned and worried. Meanwhile, some communes in Tuong Duong district had developed models and projects to conserve "mat" fish and other fish species. Their models and projects were very successful in restoring and preserving these specialty fish species, and also brought many other benefits such as generating income for villages, contributing to biodiversity conservation, protecting the ecological balance, protecting the environment, and even potentially leading to community-based ecotourism .

Many people come to see the fish in the Nam Cuom stream.

Upon hearing this information, the Party Secretary of Lang Van Dong commune, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, Nguyen Van Dung, along with a delegation of commune officials and some village Party branch secretaries, village heads, and deputy heads... made a field visit to the project for the conservation of the catfish in Tam Hop border commune (Tuong Duong district).

“The model for conserving the catfish in Tam Hop commune has been in place for many years and has now achieved certain positive results. When the delegation from Dien Lam commune visited, we were amazed by their model. They implemented it quite systematically and seriously, so the results are to be expected. The catfish population, and other aquatic species in particular, are thriving rapidly, and the Cha Lap stream where they implemented the project is very clear and peaceful. Currently, they are also aiming for experiential tourism based on the existing local landscapes. We find their model excellent and highly worth studying and learning from…” – Mr. Nguyen Van Dung enthusiastically recounted his visit to the model in Tam Hop.

The population of catfish and many other fish species in the Nam Cuom stream is growing and thriving.

Without hesitation, the commune leaders immediately directed the specialized staff to begin drafting the project proposal. By November 2022, the Dien Lam Commune People's Council had approved the project for the conservation and development of the Mat fish species in the Nam Cuom stream, linked with community-based ecotourism in Dien Lam commune.

Accordingly, the plan strictly prohibits the use of toxic chemicals, explosives, electric shocks, and other destructive methods in fishing activities. People from outside the area who fish in Dien Lam commune will be expelled. For households within the commune, the aquatic resources belong to the entire community; any illegal fishing activities, such as using electric shocks or explosives, will result in the confiscation of equipment and administrative penalties. Furthermore, each village will establish protected areas for aquatic resources along specific sections of streams. All these areas will be marked with signs to inform the public.

The "dream" of developing ecotourism.

Mr. Lu Van Hue, Secretary of the Party Branch of Cuom village, recounted that, in addition to the overfishing by local residents leading to the depletion of fish stocks, for a long time, people from outside the area also flooded into the region to catch fish. They used all kinds of fishing methods: nets, hand-fishing, even electric fishing, with everyone hunting as they pleased. Although the project was launched, initially, people's awareness was limited, and the mindset of spontaneous exploitation remained high. At first, many people resisted the project because they didn't understand it. After efforts in propaganda, persuasion, and even strong sanctions, people's awareness gradually changed.

After nearly a year of implementing the project, local residents are now self-monitoring and driving away people from other areas who come to fish. The catfish and other fish species have returned to the Nậm Cướm stream, thriving. Along the sections of the Nậm Cướm stream where fishing is prohibited, fish populations are growing rapidly, with dozens of fish per square meter of water surface. Not only catfish, but also other species like the Láu, Pộp, and Chạch stream have revived, occupying many rocky crevices and hiding places along the stream banks.

At midday, standing on the suspension bridge in Cuom village and looking down at the stream, the clear blue water was dotted with schools of small, nimble fish swimming upstream like shuttles, nibbling at moss and rocks with their white bellies gleaming like silver in the crystal-clear water—a delightful and enjoyable sight.

The authorities and the people are always closely monitoring the stream to prevent the fish from being stolen.

Mr. Lo Van Xoan, who owns a grocery store and house right next to the Nam Cuom stream, happily said: “Since the fish population was protected and fishing was prohibited, the stream has seen a return of many fish. At noon and in the afternoon, I often sit on the bank watching the schools of fish swimming around; it's very pleasant to watch. The commune's fish conservation project is truly a sound policy, and all of us residents agree and support it.”

Speaking with us on the village's suspension bridge, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of Dien Lam Commune, excitedly watched the fish swimming around and said: "Here, there are more and more catfish and other types of fish. In the late afternoon, many people from the village come here to have fun and admire the fish. On fine days, people from neighboring communes, especially young people, often travel tens of kilometers just to 'travel' to see the catfish in the Nam Cuom stream."

Nam Cuom Stream will be a "highlight" for Dien Lam commune to develop a community-based ecotourism model in the near future.

“We are waiting for the fish population to grow larger and more abundant. After that, we will study a section of the stream with beautiful terrain, about 500-600 meters long, to build some rest stops and provide food and beverage services to attract tourists from other areas for experiential travel. The model of conserving and developing the aquatic resources of the Mat fish in the Nam Cuom stream, combined with community-based ecotourism in Dien Lam commune, hopefully will change the face of this poor commune,” said Mr. Lang Van Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Dien Lam commune, expressing the commune's bold idea for the near future.

Looking at the gently flowing Nam Cuom stream, the intense July sun in western Nghe An province seems to make the stream even clearer and more poetic. Schools of fish swim playfully in the stream, captivating visitors from afar. And, we will return to Nam Cuom stream to witness the positive changes and new joys, reflecting the ideas and aspirations of the government and people of this poor, mountainous commune.

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