Cage fish farming associated with tourism development on the Da River reservoir

Hoa Binh Lake, Phu Tho Province has an area of ​​over 8,892 hectares of water surface for aquaculture development, the total potential water surface area for aquaculture is over 14,560 hectares. With majestic natural landscapes and rich and diverse aquatic resources, Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Lake currently has nearly 5,000 fish cages, with an average annual output of nearly 10,000 tons. Cage fish farming associated with tourism development is currently the direction many households are aiming for to develop a sustainable economy.

Promoting potential and advantages

Phu Tho is one of the provinces with the largest system of fish cages and rafts on hydroelectric reservoirs in the country. Since then, the local government has always focused on ensuring safety in aquaculture in general and freshwater fish farming in particular. To improve the quality of aquatic resources and promote the work of ensuring hygiene and food safety in aquaculture, since 2017, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has been assigned to be the unit managing the certification marks "Da River Fish - Hoa Binh " and "Da River Shrimp - Hoa Binh". The provincial Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development has granted 14 certificates of right to use the certification marks to cooperatives, households and seafood production and trading enterprises in the area. The cage fish farming movement of households and enterprises is currently developing quite strongly.

According to the representative of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development of Phu Tho province, the Da River reservoir has a large water surface area, suitable for aquaculture. Currently, there are nearly 40 cooperatives and aquaculture enterprises with thousands of fish cages on the water surface, bringing in hundreds of billions of VND in revenue each year, creating jobs for thousands of workers.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho province, Mr. Nguyen Huy Nhuan said that Phu Tho province has 18 cage fish production and trading establishments that have been granted VietGAP standard certificates. Cage fish farming of households and enterprises is actively contributing to the province's agricultural sector. Many households are getting rich from the profession, some households earn billions of dong each year. The province is focusing on effectively implementing planning, inspection, regular monitoring of food safety, and supporting people in this field.

Currently, Phu Tho province is effectively restructuring the agricultural sector, promoting the potential of aquaculture water surface, applying new technology to aquaculture activities to diversify products; reasonably developing cage fish farming in large water bodies, especially on hydroelectric reservoirs, effectively protecting aquatic resources and the environment; strengthening disease forecasting and prevention. Developing aquaculture in the direction of diversifying species and farming forms, taking advantage of some suitable areas to raise specialty fish; checking and controlling the situation of trading and circulating fish fry on the market, the quality of fry in production...

The tourism potential of Hoa Binh Lake lies in its beautiful natural landscape, known as “Ha Long Bay on land” with many islands and caves, along with the diverse cultures of ethnic minorities. Hoa Binh Lake has the potential to develop eco-tourism, resorts, sports, cultural and community tourism. The province is focusing on infrastructure investment, attracting investment, developing high-quality tourism products and exploiting the strengths of connections with other localities to turn Hoa Binh Lake into a National Tourism Area.

Developing aquaculture with sustainable tourism

Hoa Binh Lake is endowed by nature with a unique landscape painting, where rivers, mountains and primeval forests blend together. This land is famous for its amazing landscapes, such as: Bo Waterfall, Ret Cave, Hoa Tien Cave, Co Mountain upstream forest, and Giang Waterfall; in which, Hoa Binh Lake stands out as a natural masterpiece, with 47 large and small islands in the middle of the immense water surface, which is home to many rare species of flora and fauna.

Realizing the natural potential, Phu Tho province has focused on developing various types of resort, ecological, sports and spiritual-cultural tourism. Localities rich in identity, such as Mai Chau, Da Bac, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Lac Son have received strong investment to become attractive destinations. At the same time, the province focuses on building unique tourism products, from experiencing the culture of Muong, Thai, Dao, Tay, Mong ethnic groups, to water sports, mountain climbing, and high-class resorts.

In Muong Hoa commune, Phu Tho province, it has focused on attracting 5 eco-tourism and resort projects with a total registered investment capital of 2,710 billion VND, of which Ngoi Hoa Eco-tourism Area (Priobay) of Hoang Son Energy Investment and Trade Construction Joint Stock Company with more than 650 billion VND has come into operation, bringing a new look to the locality.

Mr. Quach Cao Son, Secretary of the Muong Hoa Commune Party Committee, said that the Commune Party Committee is promoting the application of science and technology, digital transformation, effectively exploiting potentials and advantages, mobilizing resources for socio-economic development associated with new rural construction. The commune focuses on improving the efficiency of agricultural and forestry production, focusing on developing the fisheries economy associated with protecting the ecological environment; developing tourism to become a key development breakthrough. Muong Hoa aims to develop community tourism associated with preserving Muong cultural heritage, building a green and friendly tourism brand. Tourism promotion and investment attraction will be implemented synchronously, focusing on high-quality infrastructure and services.

Chairman of Tien Phong Commune People's Committee, Ban Kim Quy, emphasized that in order to develop tourism into a spearhead economy, the commune has promoted large investments, building large-scale and systematic fish farms. For family-based fish farms, most of them have also invested and upgraded to use new types of cages, which are large-volume net cages, providing hundreds of tons of commercial fish to the market. At the same time, many activities on unique cultural and tourism events have been enhanced, such as: Displaying, introducing and selling OCOP products, local goods; organizing kayaking and walking on the lakeside tourist route. Through that, many businesses and tourists have known the Da River fish brand, as well as experienced and learned about the people and cultural features imbued with indigenous national identity.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Nhuan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho province, stated that in order to both sustainably develop the aquaculture industry and serve the development of lake tourism, the Phu Tho agricultural sector has strengthened guidance for cage fish farming households and cooperatives to continue to effectively develop aquaculture of aquatic species with economic value associated with ecological environment protection. Among them, focusing on lake specialty fish, applying VietGAP farming processes, organic aquaculture, applying science and technology to aquaculture production to increase added value and reduce costs. At the same time, aiming to develop aquaculture of aquatic species for ornamental and recreational purposes in urban areas and tourist areas; encouraging and supporting the development of aquaculture associated with tourism, educational activities, ecotourism, and experiential tours.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/nuoi-ca-long-gan-voi-phat-trien-du-lich-tren-long-ho-song-da-20250909092354519.htm