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The profession of living by the tide

For Ca Mau shrimp farmers, the tide is the “calendar” of the profession. On the full moon, 29th and 30th of the lunar month, when the ebb tide is strongest, it is also the time when people go to the sewer to drain water to empty the sluice. Each person has a job: carrying buckets, washing the sluice, waiting to scoop up shrimp... all taking place under the light of a handheld flashlight. Giant tiger prawns, whiteleg shrimp, and large crabs follow the current and get caught in the sluice placed outside the sewer. Turning over the heavy net, everyone anxiously waits to see how much they have harvested.

Night mining is a familiar work rhythm of the people of the square - forest land.

Mr. Tran Tien Khoi, who has been involved in shrimp farming for more than 30 years in Thuan Tao hamlet, Tan Tien commune, shared: “My family cultivates more than 50 hectares of large-scale shrimp farming, combining extensive farming with black tiger shrimp and crab. Each flood also earns several million VND. Before, there were a lot of natural shrimp and crab, when the flood was right, we would choose the big ones to catch, and release the small ones. Crabs had to be about 3 crabs/kg to catch. Now that the profit has decreased, people have to release more seeds.”

Women are often assigned to product sorting.

In Chanh Tai hamlet (Tan Tien commune), not far from Thuan Tao, Nguyen Thanh Sang is also busy preparing nets before each tide. He ponders when talking about the traditional work: “Working squares in this area is the same for everyone. Pouring mud at night is a habit, skipping a night feels like it is not enough. In the past, we didn’t have to release shrimp to eat, now we have to buy shrimp, and when the tide is right, it is enough to manage our household. People in this area live thanks to water, the forest, shrimp and crabs.”

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Sang prepares to drain water in the square.

Mr. Sang said that there were nights when they had to empty the net 2 or 3 times. As the water receded, the net got heavier. Sometimes there were few shrimps and many crabs, and sometimes the opposite. But no matter how much or how little, they were still happy because it was the result of their labor.

Profits decrease, worries increase

The decline in natural shrimp and fish resources has forced people to buy more seeds to maintain the farming season. Costs have increased, environmental pressure has increased, but most people still stick with the profession because the extensive shrimp and crab farming model is most suitable for mangrove areas.

The source of shrimp and crabs harvested each time the tide is not as much as before.

Recently, many training programs, technical support, loans... have helped people improve production. Some shrimp farms are produced according to international standards and are certified to supply to large enterprises, shrimp prices are more stable. And night dumping is still an indispensable step to both harvest and keep water clean for the farm.

People are excited with the harvest.

At night, lights shine all over the square bank. People work hard with the water, hoping for a favorable shrimp season. They believe that as long as the forest is preserved and water resources are protected, shrimp farming can be preserved, and the muddy culture of the square - forest land can be preserved./.

Hoang Vu

Source: https://baocamau.vn/ve-rung-xem-do-duc-a124413.html