Current status of cage aquaculture in Cha Va river, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and proposed solutions for sustainable management
Abstract
Cage aquaculture in the Cha Va river, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, has grown since the 2000s, with increases in both the farming area and the number of farming households. Currently, the scale of cage aquaculture in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is relatively small, ranging from 10 to 106 cages per household. The majority of households (46.2%) have 11-30 cages, while 26.2% have 31-50 cages. Most farming cages are constructed as floating rafts with wooden frames, in sizes of 6x6x3m, 5x5x4m, 4x4x3m, or 3x3x3m, with an average volume of about 27-100m³ per cage. Farming techniques are largely based on experience and simple, rudimentary equipment. The cultured species are diverse, including lobsters, oysters, groupers, red drum, seabass, cobia, pompano, trevally, shark catfishes, and rabbitfish. Stocking densities range from 100 to 3,000 individuals per cage, depending on the species. Farmed fish often suffer from parasitic diseases and ulcers, particularly in the summer and during the transition from the dry to rainy seasons, from April to September. For sustainable development of cage aquaculture in the Cha Va River, improvements are needed in state management, policy, planning, science and technology, and training. Raising awareness of environmental protection and minimizing water pollution in the farming area are also essential. Additionally, expanding the planning of cage farming to open seas and islands, improving aquaculture skills through training and technology transfer, and establishing self-management groups within the community to strengthen relationships between producers, businesses, and managers are crucial steps.
