Raising fish in cages on Quynh Nhai Lake.
Visiting the Son La hydroelectric reservoir area these days, standing on the majestic Pa Uon bridge and gazing out at the lake's surface, one sees hundreds of fish cages densely packed together, bobbing on the water's surface. It's hard to imagine that where the once fierce Da River once flowed, it has now become the prosperous "Ha Long Bay in the heart of Northwest Vietnam."
On the vast lake, over 2,800 fish cages, built with solid and systematic investment by 24 cooperatives and hundreds of small-scale producers and businesses, are on display. The commune's annual aquaculture and natural fishing output exceeds 1,000 tons, with cage production accounting for over 750 tons. The variety of fish species raised here is incredibly diverse, ranging from common species like tilapia, carp, and grass carp to high - value specialty species such as black carp, catfish, and snakehead fish. In recent years, in addition to selling commercial fish, cooperatives and households have also focused on processing to diversify products and enhance the value of local aquaculture.
Fish cakes and fish sausages from the Da River were showcased at the Quỳnh Nhai Commune's Culture, Sports and Tourism Week booth in 2026.
Pioneering in seafood processing in Quynh Nhai, the business of Dao Thi Hieu, in sub-district 3, currently has two products, fish cakes and fish sausages from the Da River, that have been recognized as achieving OCOP 3-star standards. In addition, her family also produces fish floss, shrimp paste, dried fish, etc., on order to serve customers inside and outside the province, with a consumption volume of nearly 1 ton per month. Ms. Hieu shared: "Starting from the purpose of supporting the consumption of fish for people in the commune and wanting to have more diverse, easy-to-eat processed fish products suitable for many people's tastes, especially children, I have researched and processed fish cakes, fish sausages, fish floss, etc. From manual production, the family has invested in modern equipment and a systematic processing process, ensuring food safety and hygiene. We have received positive feedback from customers and listened to customer suggestions and advice from the commune to continuously improve the quality and design of our products."
Cooperative societies and individual producers in the commune are actively maintaining commercial fish farming and shifting towards processing seafood products. The most popular products include frozen fish fillets, boneless catfish, dried scad, and various types of dried fish. Some large cooperatives, such as Ho Quynh, An Binh, and Do Thiet, focus on producing high-quality commercial fish, including specialty fish like snakehead fish, black carp, and tilapia, which have high economic value and stable market demand.
Tourists buy processed fish products in Quynh Nhai.
Recently, the Song Da Xanh Aquaculture Cooperative has successfully researched and produced a bio-fertilizer made from fish. This is a liquid bio-fertilizer produced using hydrolysis technology from seafood raw materials and utilizing waste products from the processing of dried fish and fish cakes. The fish fertilizer is diluted and sprayed on leaves or applied to the roots of vegetables, fruit trees, industrial crops, and ornamental plants. Currently, the cooperative produces about 20 tons of fish fertilizer annually, selling it to gardeners and farmers in the province. The "Song Da Xanh" bio-fertilizer production project, using waste products from the production of dried fish and fish cakes, was highly praised for its feasibility and won second prize in the final round of the "Business Acceleration Leverage" competition organized by the GREAT 2 sub-project management board of the Provincial Women's Union in April.
Production of fish fertilizer at Song Da Xanh Aquaculture Cooperative.
Ms. Dinh Thi Yen, Director of Song Da Xanh Aquaculture Cooperative, said: "Producing fish protein helps to fully utilize by-products from seafood processing (such as fish heads, intestines, and bones), solving the problem of environmental pollution while creating a high-quality organic fertilizer product to serve the development of green agriculture. Through the support program of the Provincial Women's Union, we hope to expand production and business in the future, increase the value of our products, and create jobs for women in the locality."
Along with strengthening encouragement and guidance for cooperatives and people to develop aquaculture, Quynh Nhai commune also pays special attention to the protection and development of natural aquatic resources through strict inspection and monitoring of fishing activities in the area; resolutely handling serious acts of using explosives, electric shock, or nets with small mesh sizes that are destructive. At the same time, it periodically organizes fish stocking events to replenish aquatic resources in the lake.
Processed seafood products.
Mr. Tong Xuan Truong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Nhai commune, said: Quynh Nhai has identified aquaculture as one of the key industries to exploit and utilize the local advantages, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people. The commune intends to continue maintaining and improving OCOP products from aquaculture and coordinate with relevant departments, units, and businesses in researching and producing processed seafood products in the future. At the same time, it will strengthen promotional and marketing activities to help cooperatives and people sell their products.
The effective utilization of water resources combined with a new mindset in processing and consuming products is helping to revitalize the aquaculture and fisheries industry in Quynh Nhai. Processing and value-added aquaculture production will be a long-term solution for the sustainable development of aquaculture in the reservoir area.
Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/quynh-nhai-nang-cao-gia-tri-thuy-san-long-ho-XF9GJBJDR.html
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