Hundreds of illegal oyster farms on Hoang Mai River have yet to be dismantled.

Bamboo poles are densely packed on the Hoang Mai River in Quynh Phuong ward. Photo: Van Truong

Hoang Mai River is over 18 km long, a national inland waterway (level 3 river) connecting from Vuc Mau Lake to Lach Con estuary to the sea. This is also an anchorage area, storm shelter, for boats in the area, the main flood drainage area of the town and drainage when Vuc Mau Lake overflows.

In recent times, the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town has issued many documents directing the People's Committees of communes, wards and related departments and units to organize inspections and statistics of households with illegal oyster and aquatic cages and platforms on the Hoang Mai River. Thereby, propagandizing and mobilizing households to dismantle them, and at the same time strictly prohibiting the emergence of illegal oyster and aquatic cages, rafts and platforms on the Hoang Mai River and Mai Giang River, affecting inland waterway traffic, natural disaster prevention, environment, etc.

However, through inspections by the authorities, the encroachment of riverbeds for bottom fishing and aquaculture (especially oyster farming) is becoming increasingly complicated. This situation hinders inland waterway traffic, affects the anchoring of boats to avoid storms and the drainage of floodwaters in the riverbed in disaster prevention work, and affects projects to build roads and bridges across the Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal.

Currently, along the river and waterways in Quynh Lap, Quynh Phuong, Mai Hung wards... there are many bottom-dwelling pens and oyster rafts with bamboo stakes planted on both sides of the river. Some stakes are submerged in the water, posing a danger to passing boats.

Oyster rafts on the river in Mai Hung ward, Hoang Mai town. Photo: Van Truong

Some oyster farming households in Quynh Phuong ward said that recently the local government has promoted and dismantled oyster rafts on the waterways, but because they have been involved in this profession for over 20 years, if they dismantle it now, it will affect the family economy , and changing careers will also face many difficulties.

Mr. Ho Xuan Huong - Chairman of Quynh Phuong Commune People's Committee added: Quynh Phuong Ward currently has 28 households illegally raising oysters and fish on Hoang Mai River, which has partly affected 730 boats entering and leaving to anchor to avoid storms. In recent years, the commune has promoted and mobilized people to voluntarily dismantle illegal aquaculture rafts on the river. However, it is very difficult, because this is the main occupation to support households, many households have invested a lot of money to build oyster and fish rafts on the river.

Through the results of the inspection of propaganda and mobilization work for people to dismantle oyster rafts, it is found that the communes and wards have not really taken drastic measures. In particular, households are still allowed to raise and invest in new illegal cages, rafts, and aquaculture platforms...

Oyster farms on the Hoang Mai River obstruct waterway traffic. Photo: Van Truong

The representative of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee said: To implement the removal of illegal aquaculture rafts, cages and fishing nets on Hoang Mai River and Mai Giang River, the Town People's Committee requested authorities at all levels and relevant forces to strengthen the mobilization and propaganda work so that households can remove illegal aquaculture cages, cages and nets and set fishing nets on rivers and estuaries in the area. Organize work, dialogue and sign a commitment to request households with cages, cages, nets on Hoang Mai River, Mai Giang River and Lach estuary to remove them themselves and not to create more. Timely detect and strictly handle violations according to the prescribed authority.

Develop a plan, roadmap, and timeline to organize the mobilization and dismantling of illegal fishing and aquaculture materials, tools, and means on rivers and estuaries in the management area, and complete the dismantling before May 30, 2024.

To dismantle illegal cages and aquaculture in Hoang Mai town, relevant sectors need to pay attention to supporting livelihoods for households such as preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank, and creating jobs to help people stabilize their lives./.

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