Model of Cobia Farming in HDPE Round Cage

The project "Building a model of marine culture of cobia (people call it cobia) using Norwegian-style HDPE round cages" being implemented in Van Ninh district has shown economic efficiency and needs to be replicated.

First effect

In the sea area (Van Thanh commune) surrounded by many islands, with clear blue water and suitable depth, aquaculture activities are very active. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa - a long-time aquarist in Ba Le beach area harvested the first batch of cobia raised in HDPE round cages, part of the project "Building a model of marine cobia with Norwegian-style HDPE round cages." ".

Different from the traditional fish rafts made of wood, bamboo and square, the new cage is round in shape and made of HDPE. In the cage diameter of 10m, 500m cage volume 3 , in mid-May 08/2020, he Hoa farmed cobia 1,000. By June 2021, he had harvested 903 fish, with an average weight of 5kg/head. The survival rate of fish is 15% higher than that of traditional cages. 

Also read: Cobia Farming Techniques

With the selling price of 130,000 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, he made a profit of more than 100 million VND. It is known that normally 1kg of cobia in farmed rafts is sold for 150,000 VND/kg, but now due to the difficult situation of seafood consumption, it is only 130,000 VND/kg.

Mr. Hoa said: “The model I am applying solves many problems faced by aquaculture farmers, such as high survival rate, good resistance to storms. In fact, at the end of 2020, a strong storm of grade 6, level 7, 8 passed through this area, but the HDPE round cage did not have any problems. 

In my experience, this type of cage can withstand a level 12 storm. After this season, I will invest in another round cage and gradually convert all marine farming activities to round cages in the future.”

Replication step by step

According to Mr. Huynh Kim Khanh - Director of Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, storm No. 12 in 2017 caused very heavy damage to Khanh Hoa's marine farming activities. In the face of increasingly complicated weather conditions, wind and storms occur more often, the unit researched, asked questions and was supported by the National Center for Agricultural Extension to implement the project "Building a model of marine aquaculture in Vietnam". cobia in a Norwegian-style HDPE round cage” in the province. 

The project will be deployed from 2020 to 2022 with a total of 6 models. After the positive results of the model implemented by Mr. Hoa, in 2021, the center will continue to support 2 HDPE round cages for 2 households to participate in the implementation, and at the same time conduct an evaluation of implementation effectiveness as a basis. , gradually replicated for marine fish farming households in the vicinity who have needs to learn and follow.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Sy, who is raising 70 wooden cages in Van Phong Bay, said: “After learning about Mr. Hoa's farming model, I decided to convert to wooden cages, but the obstacle is the initial investment cost. The head is quite high, 1 HDPE cage has a market price of 180 million dong; It is difficult for fishermen to invest without the State's policies and loans."

Also read: Top Copper Maker Wieland Sees End to Escapes, Will Improve Fish Health With Brass Mesh Cages

Mr. Phuong Minh Nam - Head of Fisheries Extension Department (Provincial Agricultural Extension Center), project manager, said that, in addition to economic calculations, HDPE round cages have an advantage over traditional cages that are independent, helping the farming area to grow. more ventilation, creating a better farming environment than the cages made from dozens of cages together.

In addition, HDPE plastic is rated as environmentally friendly and has higher durability than traditional cages. In particular, thanks to better resistance to waves and waves, HDPE cages can be raised in open seas, far from the shore to help the farmed fish grow and develop better, thereby improving the survival rate. Households participating in the project's model plan to continue to expand the farming scale. 

Aquaculture farmers around and near the project also have the need to invest and deploy marine fish farming with HDPE cages to gradually convert the traditional method of raising wooden cages to reduce risks and disasters when storms occur. out.

Also read: Automatic Submersible Fish Cage Systems Counter Weather, Surface Problems

Mr. Pham Ngoc Luyen - Deputy Head of Economic Division of Van Ninh district: Currently, the whole district has 39,000 cages of more than 1,200 households engaged in marine aquaculture. Most of the cage systems are wooden rafts with main species being cobia, pompano, grouper, lobster… 

The HDPE round cage model the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is testing in Van Ninh has the ability to withstand better wind and storm, protecting the property of fishermen. In particular, through the model, staff of the Agricultural Extension Center of the province and district have supported, together with the fishermen, timely exchanged and handled technical issues and farming processes, so it was highly effective. 

With economic benefits and sustainability, the District Economic Division encourages people to replicate the model of marine aquaculture using HDPE round cages.

The project "Building a model of marine cobia with Norwegian-style HDPE round cages" in the province is supported by the National Agricultural Extension Center and the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center with a total budget of more than 4.7 billion VND. in the 3 years 2020 - 2022. In which, the agricultural extension fund supports 3 billion VND, the rest is provided by the aquaculturists participating in the reciprocal project. The money is mainly used for equipping cages, breeding animals and food.

Source: tepbac.com