Lam Dong affirms sturgeon brand

Lam Dong's commercial sturgeon output is expected to reach 2,300 tons in 2025, worth about 450 billion VND.

In the picture of Lam Dong's aquaculture development, sturgeon has emerged as a key product, with high commodity value, both creating a stable livelihood for people and affirming its brand in the national market. Thanks to favorable natural conditions and the correct orientation of the functional sector, sturgeon farming in Lam Dong is gradually growing strongly, becoming a bright spot of the province's agricultural economy .

Lam Dong has many favorable conditions to strongly develop cold-water fish farming, especially sturgeon. Photo: Phuong Chi.

From the advantage of cold water source

Abundant cold water reserves, stable water temperature and a large hydroelectric reservoir system are ideal conditions for Lam Dong to develop cold water fish farming, especially sturgeon. From a few initial small-scale models, the whole province now has about 107 hectares of sturgeon farming with many diverse forms such as cage farming on hydroelectric lakes, farming in cement tanks, and farming in earthen ponds.

According to the Department of Fisheries and Islands (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong), in the first 9 months of 2025, the province's commercial sturgeon output is estimated at 1,580 tons, expected to reach 2,300 tons for the whole year with a value of about 450 billion VND, making an important contribution to the province's total aquatic product output.

Sturgeon is not only consumed domestically but also has the potential to expand the export market thanks to its delicious, nutritious meat quality and diverse processing capabilities. The demand for cold water fish, especially sturgeon and salmon, is increasing in large cities and the high-end hotel and restaurant segment. In addition to fresh fish, there are some initial processed products such as fillets and sturgeon eggs.

Lam Dong sturgeon output leads the country with about 2,300 tons/year. Photo: Phuong Chi.

Ms. Thai Thi Ngoc Tran, Head of the Lam Dong Department of Fisheries and Sea Islands, said that sturgeon farming in Lam Dong has escaped from fragmentation and become an organized industry. Many farming households are linked along the value chain from breeding to processing and consumption. This connection helps increase product value, reduce risks and create a solid position in the market.

Currently, in Lam Dong province, there are about 120 intensive and semi-intensive cold-water fish farming facilities. They are mainly concentrated in the communes: Lac Duong; Dam Rong 1,2,3,4; Bao Thuan (old Di Linh district); Bao Lam 4, 5 (old Bao Lam district) and Xuan Huong and Lang Biang wards (Da Lat)...

Lam Dong identifies cold-water fish as a product with local competitive advantages, therefore the province will focus on in-depth investment, aiming to form a chain of high value-added products, thereby improving competitiveness in domestic and international markets.

Lam Dong also requested that sectors and localities continue to guide and support organizations and individuals in the production and breeding of cold-water fish, speed up the issuance of certificates of eligibility for production according to regulations. At the same time, create favorable legal and technical conditions for businesses to proactively research, produce breeds, invest in infrastructure, effectively exploit potential and natural advantages, contributing to the sustainable development of cold-water fish farming in the province.

Proactively produce seeds, creating a sustainable supply source

Along with commercial farming, Lam Dong pays special attention to sturgeon seed production - a decisive factor for sustainable development. According to statistics, in the first 9 months of 2025, Lam Dong's sturgeon seed output is estimated at 4.25 million, and is expected to reach 5.1 million for the whole year.

In the first 9 months of 2025, Lam Dong's sturgeon seed output is estimated to reach 4.25 million. Photo: Phuong Chi.

Lam Dong currently has 7 cold-water fish breeding and production facilities including: Da Lat Caviar Company Limited; Viet Duc Company Limited; Phi Huynh Company Limited; Giang Ly Joint Stock Company; Huynh Ngoc Thu business establishment; Central Highlands Cold-water Fish Research Station (belonging to the National Center for Freshwater Aquaculture Breeding in Central Vietnam - Aquaculture Research Institute III) and Vietnam Sturgeon Company Limited.

Seed production facilities in the province often focus on operations at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter to supply people in time for the beginning of the rainy season - the right time for stocking. Thanks to strict control of production conditions and quality, Lam Dong sturgeon seeds are increasingly appreciated by the market for their health, adaptability and outstanding productivity. This is also a strategic step to help the province not depend on imported seeds, minimize disease risks, and strengthen the domestic sturgeon brand.

Strict control of the quality of the breed will help Lam Dong sturgeon achieve high quality. Photo: Phuong Chi.

In particular, through the project of applying technology to produce Russian sturgeon and Siberian sturgeon breeds implemented by the Department of Science and Technology of Lam Dong province in coordination with units and enterprises, experts from the Institute of Aquaculture III directly undertake the technical breeding process such as raising parent fish, selecting mature fish, collecting sperm and eggs, artificial insemination, raising larvae and raising fingerlings, contributing to proactively providing high-quality breeds in the locality.

According to the National Center for Freshwater Aquaculture Breeding in the Central Region (Region III Aquaculture Research Institute), the process of producing sturgeon breeds has been widely deployed, meeting about 20% of domestic demand for breeds and is expected to proactively provide 60-70% of sturgeon breed sources in the next few years when dozens of tons of parent fish at research facilities and businesses reach reproductive age.

In the coming time, Lam Dong will continue to promote the application of new and high technology in sturgeon farming to increase efficiency and limit environmental impacts. Monitoring and warning of water quality in reservoirs will be carried out regularly to help farmers proactively adjust production processes. The connection between seed production facilities, commercial farming households and processing enterprises will also be strongly promoted, forming a closed value chain, enhancing the competitiveness of Lam Dong sturgeon products.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/lam-dong-khang-dinh-thuong-hieu-ca-tam-d783698.html