Clearing fish cages and rafts in central Dong Nai is an urgent task

Removing fish-farming cages and rafts from the rivers running through central Dong Nai has become an urgent task, according to the city’s Department of Agriculture and Environment.

The department is seeking comments from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, city departments and the Tran Bien and Long Hung ward administrations on a draft resolution outlining support for clearing the cages and rafts. Some of the rafts are used as homes.

The Dong Nai and Cai rivers in these wards serve as important waterborne trade routes. They also supply most of the freshwater used by Dong Nai city and provide water for Thu Duc Water Plant in Ho Chi Minh City. The rivers currently hold 536 fish-farming rafts and 1,428 cages belonging to 290 aquaculture households.

Officials say the activity creates substantial pressure on the river environment. Leftover feed, aquaculture waste and household waste from people living on the rafts could pollute the water. The dense concentration of cages also restricts water flow and reduces the waterway’s natural ability to cleanse itself, increasing the risk of localized pollution. The installations affect the riverside landscape, urban appearance and inland navigation.

Fish farming in cages and rafts has existed on these rivers for many years, but the number of structures grew quickly and largely without formal planning. A 2006 project by the former Bien Hoa city administration sought to develop a fish-raft village compatible with the ecological landscape of the Dong Nai River by 2010, with a vision to 2020. The plan did not meet its goals because of objective and subjective obstacles.

The department says maintaining densely packed cages and raft-based activity no longer fits the direction of modern, civilized and sustainable urban development. It considers timely clearance necessary to address risks to water quality, the cityscape and waterway safety.