Potential for raising catfish

Khanh Hoa sea area has natural distribution of catfish, very suitable for research on seed production and commercial farming. From that fact, the research team of Nha Trang University has successfully built the process of seed production and commercial farming of catfish, opening up prospects for developing new farming objects for people.

At the breeding farm of the Aquaculture Research and Services Company Limited in Cat Loi village (North Nha Trang ward), where the model of producing fish breeds is being implemented, Professor, Dr. Pham Quoc Hung - Head of the project said: "The fish breeds are widely distributed throughout the Indian Ocean - Pacific Ocean , often living in floating seaweed patches and around coral reefs, from shallow coastal waters to deep waters. Their main food is mollusks, plankton and seaweed. However, research on this fish species in the world and in the country is still very limited. Therefore, determining technical indicators to develop a breeding and commercial farming process is necessary, contributing to diversifying economically valuable farming objects in our country's marine farming strategy".

Checking the commercial farming model of catfish in Nam Ninh Hoa commune.

To conduct the study, the team selected 65 parent fish weighing 1.8 - 3kg from commercial cages in Tri Nguyen island area and raised them in 2 cages with a volume of ^64m3 ; fed fresh fish, squid, oysters and supplemented with vitamins. After 25 months of raising, the fish reached reproductive maturity. After 8 times of spawning, the research team collected nearly 6 million eggs and raised 5.3 million fry. The results showed that fish can reproduce in cages from March to November. With the climate conditions in Khanh Hoa , parent fish can reproduce many times a year. The fry were raised at a density of 8-12 fish/liter, after 98 days they reached a weight of 171g/fish. After that, the fish were transferred to 2 commercial cages at sea in Nam Ninh Hoa commune, raised with industrial feed. After 11 months, the fish reached a weight of nearly 1kg/fish. Test results show that the fish grows well and has a high survival rate.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - a farmer raising commercial catfish in Hon Thi (Nam Ninh Hoa commune): He raised more than 2,000 fingerlings (weighing 5g/fish) in cages, fed with industrial feed combined with miscellaneous fish. After 11 months, the fish reached nearly 0.9kg/fish, with a survival rate of nearly 89%. With a selling price of nearly 100,000 VND/kg, the profit was about 19 million VND.

Professor, Dr. Pham Quoc Hung assessed: The process of artificial breeding and commercial farming of catfish in cages at sea, using industrial feed is very promising. The fish grow quickly, are healthy, and can reach a weight of 1.5 - 2 kg in 12 months if farming conditions are favorable. The systematic scientific research from the stage of selecting parent fish, controlling egg quality, breeding, to perfecting the farming process with industrial feed has opened up a new direction for aquaculture farmers. Because when there is a standard process, it will better meet the requirements of the domestic and export markets, thereby increasing the commercial value of the farming objects.

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Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202508/tiem-nang-nuoi-ca-tai-bo-925113a/