Fish farming in cages on Ba Nuong dam.

QTO - The Ba Nuong Dam in Minh Hoa mountainous commune has long been considered a "golden water area" for the development of aquaculture. Recognizing this, many households in Quy Hop village have started raising fish in cages on the dam's reservoir, yielding high economic returns and contributing to increased income and improved living standards for the people.

With its large surface area, clear and relatively unpolluted water environment, and rich ecosystem, the Ba Nuong dam has very favorable conditions for developing cage fish farming. Recognizing this advantage, many households in Quy Hop village have invested in building cages and applying scientific and technical advancements to raise fish commercially. The types of fish raised in the reservoir are mainly tilapia, grass carp, and common carp.

To date, the village has 20 fish cages belonging to 8 households. Village head Cao Thanh Minh of Quy Hop said: “Compared to pond fish farming, cage fish farming on the Ba Nuong reservoir has many advantages, such as: saving land area, utilizing natural water sources, and providing food from forests, mountains, and grass in rice-growing areas. Fish raised on the reservoir are less susceptible to disease, grow quickly, and have delicious, high-quality meat that is favored by the market.”

Previously, Cao Thanh Binh, from Quy Hop village, relied mainly on catching wild fish and growing rice, resulting in unstable income. In 2022, when the local authorities promoted and encouraged people to raise fish in cages commercially, he was the first to do so. “At first, I was very worried about raising fish in cages because I lacked experience and feared risks. But with the mindset of ‘you have to work to earn a living,’ I decided to borrow preferential capital and invest 50 million VND in building two fish cages and buying 200 grass carp fingerlings to raise.”

The model of cage fish farming on Ba Nuong reservoir has helped many households earn high incomes - Photo: XV

In the early days of cage fish farming, Mr. Binh practically "lived and breathed" the fish cages. From selecting the right fingerlings, feeding the fish on time, monitoring water color and currents, to disease prevention, he was always meticulous. With perseverance, he was rewarded when his fish grew quickly, were healthy, and had a low mortality rate. In his first farming season, he earned a profit of 45 million VND, which, although not a large amount, gave him more confidence to stick with the profession.

Starting with just two fish cages, Mr. Binh has now expanded to four, raising over 1,000 single-sex tilapia and grass carp. Each year, his family sells approximately 1.5 tons of commercial fish, earning a profit of 100-120 million VND after deducting expenses. Thanks to the income from fish farming, he has built a spacious house and purchased additional production equipment. From a struggling household, Mr. Binh has become a well-off one, attracting many visitors seeking to learn from his experience. “Raising fish in cages is quite hard work, but the income is much more stable than farming, stripping acacia wood, or catching fish in the wild. The important thing is to apply the correct techniques and maintain the appropriate stocking density for optimal results,” Mr. Binh shared.

Following Mr. Binh's example, many households in Quy Hop village now raise fish on the Ba Nuong dam. Mr. Dinh Chi Hieu, a cage fish farmer in Quy Hop village, shared: “To raise fish sustainably, first and foremost, we must maintain clean water, always adhere to regulations on stocking density, use quality feed, regularly clean the cages, and avoid indiscriminately discharging waste into the lake. In addition, fish farmers need to cooperate with each other to share fish feed, stabilize selling prices, and prevent diseases.”

Mr. Hieu started raising fish in cages in February 2024 with 3 cages, investing over 30 million VND. Each cage is 24m2 wide and 3.5m deep. One cage is for raising small fish, and two are for raising larger fish, with a total of 1,000 fingerlings. Mr. Hieu mainly raises grass carp to take advantage of natural food sources. During the September 2nd holiday in 2025, he sold nearly one-third of his fish, earning a net profit of over 50 million VND. He plans to sell the remaining fish during the Lunar New Year in 2026.

Not only Mr. Binh and Mr. Hieu, but many households raising fish in cages on the Ba Nuong reservoir have earned hundreds of millions of dong each year. According to Mr. Dinh Ngoc Tuong, Head of the Economic Department of Minh Hoa commune: “The model of raising fish in cages on the Ba Nuong reservoir not only creates stable livelihoods for the people but also contributes to solving local employment problems, especially for middle-aged and young people in rural areas. In the future, the commune will promote and encourage people in Quy Hop village to expand the farming area; coordinate with relevant units to support loans, vocational training, and product consumption linkages to help people feel secure in their production.”

Xuan Vuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202601/nuoi-ca-long-tren-dap-ba-nuong-5f90eb0/