Pioneer in offshore aquaculture

The first household to raise animals in the sea 6 nautical miles from shore

Recently, we had the opportunity to join Mr. Vo Lam Dong and Mrs. Luong Thi Kim Thoa (in Bai Gieng 3 Residential Group, Cam Duc Town, Cam Lam District) to bring yellowfin pompano fish to raise in Hon Noi sea, 6 nautical miles from shore. From early morning, when the truck carrying 2,000 fingerlings had just arrived, Mr. Dong urged everyone to quickly put the fingerlings on the boat to take them to the breeding area. “My family has a tradition of seafarming, learned about high-tech marine farming and the effectiveness of successful farming models in the sea of Cam Lap commune (Cam Ranh city), Van Phong bay, so when Cam Lam district implemented high-tech marine farming, sponsored by Thien Tam Fund ( Vingroup ), my husband and I boldly registered to participate. During this period, my family has only brought 2,000 fry to be raised in square cages, and will continue to bring 5,000 more to be raised. When the fish are bigger, they will be raised in round cages,” said Ms. Thoa.

Fish are raised in square cages, and when they reach size they are transferred to round cages.

After more than 1 hour and 15 minutes of traveling, overcoming the white-capped waves, before our eyes were round cages (used for commercial farming), square cages (used for fish farming or lobster farming) in Hon Noi waters. Instead of the image of wooden rafts, submerged cages, foam buoys, and barrels commonly seen in coastal farming areas, Hon Noi is a modern high-tech farming area. We counted 20 round cages measuring ^800m3 , 2 square cage clusters with a total of 16 cages made entirely of HDPE material that can withstand strong winds and waves that have been launched to the farming area, some of which have been installed with cage nets. Having been to the high-tech marine farming area in Cam Lap many times, we noticed that the cages in Hon Noi waters have been designed to suit farming conditions in offshore waters with strong currents... The structure of the cage frame is more solid, with 3 buoy rings to withstand force, increase buoyancy, and a monolithic cage frame support; The mesh bag is better designed to withstand strong winds and currents; the anchor system is firmly arranged, has a larger load-bearing capacity and is more flexible...

Sharing about the cage system, Mr. Dong expressed: “My family is very confident to be the first household in the country to raise fish in the sea 6 nautical miles from shore, with 2 round cages. Because the HDPE cage system has been confirmed to be resistant to strong winds and waves, the water quality is better when raised far from shore... In addition, the cages also have a management system such as: Surveillance cameras, positioning systems, monitoring systems for salinity, pH, DO, temperature. This management system is connected to smartphones to help manage effectively throughout the farming process, safe during the rainy and stormy season...".

According to Mr. Dong, in this farming area, there are 10 households raising fish and 2 households raising lobsters in Cam Ranh City that have brought cages to the farming area and are currently raising the fry near the shore. When the fry reach the right size, they will be raised for commercial purposes. In addition, there are other households in Cam Lam District and Cam Ranh City that have completed the installation of cages and are preparing to launch them to the farming area. "We all believe and have high expectations for the high-tech marine farming model in the 3-6 nautical mile sea area that the province is implementing," Mr. Dong emphasized.

Actively support farmers

According to our research, households in Cam Ranh City and Cam Lam District participating in high-tech marine farming in Hon Noi area are households supported by funding from Thien Tam Fund (Vingroup) when implementing the pilot model of high-tech marine farming, after successfully piloting in the open sea area of Cam Lap commune. It is expected that in 2025, the fund will continue to support 70 households in coastal localities in the province to develop high-tech marine farming. At this stage, the pilot scope will be expanded beyond the 3-nautical mile sea area in all coastal localities in the province. To date, a marine farming model using HDPE cage clusters combined with tourism has been formed in Dam Bay area; in Hon Noi sea area, there is a cluster of cages in the open sea area, 3-6 nautical miles from shore. In Van Ninh district, Ninh Hoa town, households have registered to participate in the model. Proactively deploying and replicating the pilot model of high-tech marine farming in open sea areas is an important premise for the province to successfully implement the pilot project of developing high-tech marine farming in Khanh Hoa.

Mr. Vo Lam Dong's family is the first household in the country to release marine fish 6 nautical miles from shore.

From the reality of the days going in and out of Hon Noi farming area, Mr. Dong expressed that Hon Noi farming area is far from shore, every day, farmers have to go in and out to check, feed fish and shrimp; therefore, households really need a ferry to facilitate movement. In addition, households also really need support policies from the State on insurance for workers in marine farming, aquaculture; being granted water surface, stable farming licenses for development...

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in order to encourage and support people and businesses to invest in high-tech marine farming, in addition to focusing on advising the province to issue criteria and classify cages at different standards and technologies suitable for each area, farming area, farming scale, storm resistance level... to apply for high-tech marine farming in the province, the department also advises the Provincial People's Committee on policies to support people to convert marine cages from traditional materials to new materials; support funding to buy accident insurance for workers working on cages and means of marine farming; coordinate with agencies and units to guide and deploy the establishment of high-tech marine farming cooperatives... Currently, the department has requested the Department of Fisheries, Seas and Islands; The Department of Minerals and Environment urgently guides, appraises, and advises on the issuance of aquaculture licenses and the allocation of sea surface to households, cooperatives, and enterprises, especially for high-tech marine farming households, shortening the time for procedures by 50% compared to regulations... Particularly for the high-tech marine farming area in Hon Noi, Thien Tam Fund also has a plan to build a ferry for people; support large ships to conveniently transport people from the mainland to the farming area...

HAI LANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202505/tien-phong-nuoi-bien-xa-bo-14b1a20/