Van Don makes strong comeback with oyster harvest after Typhoon Yagi
After more than five months of inactivity due to storm damage, Van Don District in Quang Ninh Province has officially kicked off its aquaculture recovery with the first oyster harvests of the year.
In March, over 3,000 tons of farmed seafood, primarily oysters, were brought ashore at Cai Rong Port, accounting for nearly 49% of the volume harvested during the same period last year. In April, the district expects production to reach 7,700 tons, 2.5 times higher than in March.
According to Ha Van Ninh from the district’s Agriculture and Environment Department, the oysters harvested in March came mainly from surviving stock left behind after Typhoon Yagi and newly seeded batches released immediately after the storm. Favorable weather and optimal conditions have accelerated oyster growth, with many reaching harvest size in just 4 to 5 months, compared to the typical 7-month cycle.
Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall in September 2024, devastated the district’s aquaculture sector, wiping out roughly 32,000 tons of seafood ready for harvest and damaging the livelihoods of more than 1,200 households. In response, local farmers quickly returned to sea, rebuilding farms and reintroducing new oyster seed. Support from local authorities, including fast-tracked water zone assignments, played a critical role in stabilizing operations and enabling recovery.
Nguyen Van Manh, a grower in Ban Sen Commune, shared that both Ban Sen and Minh Chau are now leading the district’s oyster harvest. “The weather has been ideal, sunny, moderate temperatures, and clean seawater. After the storm, the ocean was rich in plankton and seaweed, which helped oysters grow faster,” he said.
Oyster prices have surged to VND 25,000–28,000 per kilogram at port, 2.5 to 3 times higher than pre-Yagi levels, bringing profits of over 50% of total revenue for many farmers. Nguyen The Thanh, a grower from Ha Long Commune, noted that these high prices are enabling reinvestment and expansion. Meanwhile, Trung Nam Aquaculture Cooperative, the first in the province to receive official sea area allocations, has begun restocking nearly 50 hectares of water surface.
Van Don’s aquaculture area now exceeds pre-storm levels in both farm size and stock numbers. Of the district’s 3,663 hectares of marine farming, more than 3,500 hectares are dedicated to mollusks, with the rest supporting sea fish, shrimp, and other species. Many farms have adopted advanced materials and modern techniques, boosting growth and productivity.
With strong signs of recovery, Van Don is optimistic about not only meeting its April harvest target but also maintaining momentum throughout 2025 and beyond, cementing its role as a major contributor to Quang Ninh’s seafood economy.
VFM
