Brackish water and offshore aquaculture – high hopes for the new season
Since before the Lunar New Year, seafood farmers across the province have been enjoying solid profits. As the new season kicks off, they’re optimistic about another successful year.
Strong market for cobia
Even though it’s not peak harvest time, rising market demand over the Lunar New Year has encouraged offshore fish farmers in Ly Son to start selling their cobia. With prices holding strong, farmers are feeling confident.
Over the past few weeks, fish distributors have been hiring boats to visit floating farms in Ly Son, buying cobia directly from fish cages and transporting them to the mainland. Pham Van Tham, a farmer from Dong An Hai village, owns 40 cages stocked with cobia, grouper, and lobster. He recently sold about three tons of cobia at 170,000 VND per kilogram, bringing in a solid profit.
“It’s not peak season yet, but demand is high, so many farmers are selling their fish once they hit the ideal size of 5–6 kg,” Tham said. “Big sellers call distributors to their farms to weigh and buy in bulk, while smaller-scale farmers bring their fish to the port to sell.”
Ly Son currently has over 1,710 floating cages managed by 57 farmers, covering about 12 hectares. Most farmers are switching to modern, eco-friendly cage systems and diversifying their stock with high-value species like cobia, grouper, pompano, and lobster.
Pham Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the Ly Son District People’s Committee, said that marine aquaculture has become a key economic driver for the area. “Thanks to government support, more farmers are getting into offshore aquaculture, and the industry is growing fast. With more experience, farmers are raising high-value species that sell well in the market, leading to better profits,” she said. “This season, favorable weather, minimal disease outbreaks, and strong demand are helping farmers earn even more than last year.”
Getting ready for brackish water farming
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the first brackish water aquaculture season of the year begins in February. Since the Lunar New Year, farmers across the province have been cleaning and prepping their ponds for stocking. The main species this season are white-leg shrimp and spotted babylon snails. Local agricultural officials have been providing farmers with guidance on stocking schedules, farming techniques, and seed quality.
Nguyen Bao, a farmer from Van Ha village in Duc Phong commune (Mo Duc district), owns four aquaculture ponds spanning 12,000 square meters in Minh Tan Bac, Duc Minh commune. He previously farmed white-leg shrimp but switched to spotted babylon snails in recent years. Bao has already stocked 250,000 snail juveniles in three ponds and is preparing the last pond by transferring snails from other ponds, ensuring a fresh environment that promotes healthy growth and minimizes disease risks.
“The most important step in starting a new season is thoroughly cleaning the ponds,” Bao explained. “After each harvest, waste, uneaten feed, and pathogens build up at the bottom. If you don’t clean it properly, shrimp and snails won’t grow well, and diseases can spread.”
Spotted babylon prices have been strong since before the Lunar New Year. Right now, snails of about 100 pieces per kilogram are selling for 280,000 VND/kg, bringing in solid income for farmers. Many are hopeful that this season will be even more profitable.
To ensure a successful season, provincial agricultural officials are reminding farmers to follow recommended stocking schedules, stick to best farming practices, and monitor weather conditions to prevent disease outbreaks. They’re also advising farmers to use high-quality feed and aquaculture products while avoiding banned antibiotics and chemicals, as regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
VFM
