Quang Ninh province adopts land-based tank for sturgeon farming in remote forests

Starting with just five fixed sunken tanks, Hao recognized the unique potential of the area’s cool, pristine water flowing from ancient forests. He invested in land-based tank technology, which allowed him to fully master sturgeon farming techniques in under two years. He transitioned from the initial fixed tanks to 86 floating units, 80 for juvenile rearing and six for commercial production, gaining complete control over the production cycle.

According to Hao, land-basd tanks can be dismantled, relocated, expanded, or repositioned easily, overcoming the high costs and inflexibility of traditional sunken tanks. The technology also improves water quality management, reduces disease risks, and optimizes investment costs.

Rather than keeping his methods proprietary, Hao worked with other local farmers to establish the Sec Long Min Sturgeon Cooperative, which now has seven members. The cooperative aims to supply 20-30 tonnes of market-ready sturgeon and millions of juvenile fish each year, contributing to local livelihood diversification.

Initially, many doubted the feasibility of farming sturgeon in this mountainous region. But as the fish grew uniformly, showed strong survival rates, and production costs fell thanks to the tanks, confidence spread. Local authorities have also backed the model, viewing it as a way to make better use of the area’s cold-water resources, diversify agricultural production, and reduce dependence on monocultures like acacia and cinnamon.

Ultimately, the value of technology in agriculture does not lie in expensive equipment, but in its ability to adapt to challenging conditions. With land-based tanks, sturgeon farming in these remote forests is evolving from a promising idea into a viable industry with access to larger markets.

VFM