Bustling activity during the "fish migration season"

THE "GOLDEN SEASON" FOR FISHERMEN

The main fish species that contribute to the abundance of this season include: snakehead fish, catfish, carp, tilapia, and catfish...

With generations of experience, fishermen in the Mekong Delta have prepared a variety of fishing gear and equipment. This includes setting traps, casting nets, hauling in fish-gathering nets, seine nets, and even setting up seine nets on the river.

Fishermen cast their nets to catch fish on the river.

The scene on the river these days is bustling with boats, the calls of those casting nets, the rhythmic splashing of oars – all blending together to create a "symphony" of labor during the fish harvest season.

The Mekong Delta has long been known as the "largest rice granary in the country," and it is also a land of "living in harmony with nature," where people immerse themselves in the rhythm of the flood season as a natural occurrence. When the vast waters of the rice fields begin to recede, a bustling season of livelihood returns, bringing with it abundant aquatic resources, creating a significant economic benefit, and the people of the Mekong Delta call it "the season when fish return to the river."

Each flood season, fertile silt is deposited by the water to enrich the fields, and shrimp and fish also migrate to the delta. In the upstream border areas of the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang , and Tay Ninh, the atmosphere becomes bustling like a festival when the water recedes.

Fish follow the current, and people follow the fish to make a living. Those with rice paddies take advantage of the opportunity to cultivate rice crops, while those without land go to the river to set traps, cast nets, and spread fishing nets. It is thanks to this generous river that countless families have enough to eat and save, and can provide for their children's education.

On a morning in the tenth lunar month, when mist still hung low over the trees along the border, the upstream water receded, revealing alluvial plains; beneath the surface, schools of fish weaved through the reeds, making their way back to the main river.

On the river, many fishermen gently cast their nets, the sound of oars splashing in the water creating a lively atmosphere. Depending on their equipment and luck, fishermen can catch an average of several dozen kilograms of fish each day.

With the stable price of wild fish, a person can earn from several hundred thousand to over one million VND per day.

Snakehead fish are purchased in large quantities to be processed into fermented fish paste or to make the famous snakehead fish sauce. Other types of fish such as catfish, toadfish, carp, and silver carp are sorted and sold at higher prices than snakehead fish. Fisherman Nguyen Van Dau (Tan Ho Co commune) said: "Natural fish are very popular with consumers this season; we sell everything we have."

A bustling fishing season

These days, the floodwaters in the upstream border region, adjacent to the Kingdom of Cambodia, are receding rapidly. Many fields have been drained to prepare the land for planting the winter-spring rice crop.

"The season when fish migrate to the river" is also the time when people in the riverine areas are busy making fish sauce and dried fish.

When the water recedes, those who make a living by fishing with nets also move their fishing spots, relocating from the fields down to the riverbanks.

While in the fields, fishermen catch fish by setting traps, pushing nets, and placing snares, when the fish come out into the river, they use other methods such as casting nets, dropping nets, and setting longlines...

Mr. Doan Van Lam, who lives along the banks of the So Thuong River (Thuong Lac Ward), shared: “Around the beginning of October in the lunar calendar, fish start to move from the rice paddies into the river. Every day, I cast my nets and harvest 7-10 kg of various types of fish, providing an additional source of income to support my family.”

On the rivers and canals, numerous fishing boats appear, creating a very lively fishing scene. People use nets with large mesh sizes to catch catfish, carp, and other small fish; while nets with smaller mesh sizes are used to catch eels and other small fish.

"The fish migration season" is not only a natural cycle, but also a "golden season" for fishermen, a vivid portrayal of nature's generosity and human industriousness.

The "fish migration season" usually begins around October or November in the lunar calendar, which is when the water level rises and the water in the rice fields begins to dry up, signaling the migration of aquatic species.

The shrimp and fish, having been "fattened" by silt and natural food sources during months of flooding, now migrate along canals and ditches to find their way back to the main river channels, creating a bustling fishing season.

Mr. Tran Anh Tu (Long Khanh commune) said: "Following the water flow, various types of fish from the rice fields converge into the river area, so people can catch more than usual. I used a net to catch more fish, about 10 kg of various types of fish each day."

On days when they catch a lot of fish and can't sell it all, people mobilize family members to process the fish together to make fish sauce or dried fish. This is a communal cultural feature of the people in the Mekong Delta, where the work of earning a living sometimes becomes a family and village reunion.

We toured markets from the countryside to the city, and everywhere we went, we saw stalls selling fresh specialties of the "fish season" such as: snakehead fish, catfish, tilapia, catfish, dolphin fish, sweet potato fish, eel, and carp...

At dawn, the markets were already bustling with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and bargaining between buyers and sellers. Ms. Tran Cam Nhung, a small trader at Hong Ngu Market (Hong Ngu Ward), enthusiastically introduced her river fish: "Buying river fish at this time of year, whether grilled, braised, or lightly seasoned, they're all delicious."

"The fish this season is delicious, guaranteed fresh, if it's not good, you don't pay." Ms. Nhung also said that the "fish migration season" is the time most anticipated by people in the upstream border areas, because the abundance of fish and shrimp leads to more bustling trading activities, resulting in better income than usual.

"The 'fish migration season' is the time when people in the Mekong Delta start preparing fermented fish paste. Along the border area, I easily encountered women sitting and processing small fish like snakehead and catfish for fermentation, chatting animatedly."

The various types of fish caught during the flood season have helped many localities create traditional fish sauce brands, renowned throughout the region, as well as high-value OCOP (One Commune One Product) products. Ms. Dao Thi Nga (Thuong Lac ward) shared: “At this time, establishments collect small fish like snakehead and catfish to ferment and process into fish sauce or make raw fish paste. Fish paste made during this season is the best of the flood season.”

It can be said that the "fish migration season" is not only a harvest season, but also a season of reunion and prosperity, affirming the inseparable bond between the inhabitants and the miraculous flow of the Mekong Delta.

DUONG UT

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/nhon-nhip-mua-ca-ra-song--a234004.html