Recent days have seen devastating losses for fish farmers along the Thu Bon River as hundreds of tons of fish suddenly died, causing economic distress for many families. According to local reports, the die-off began on February 26, when the waters of the Thu Bon turned murky with sediment, and fish farming operations from Duy Nghia and Duy Hai to the coastal area of Cua Dai started reporting catastrophic losses.
By the afternoon of February 27, fish farmers were still salvaging the dead fish from their cages, estimated at about 500 kilograms per cage, predominantly consisting of Acetes japonicus, or tiger shrimp, each weighing around 100 grams. Nguyen Cuong, a fish farmer from Thon Hoi Son, noted, “Prior to the Lunar New Year, I invested over 320 million VND to raise more than 30,000 juvenile fish across 15 cages. They were growing well until February 26, when they began to show signs of distress and died off one by one.”
Nguyen Cuong added, “Once the water from upstream changed color, our fish started dying almost entirely. I had to move my cages back to the Hong Trieu pier to dispose of the dead fish and save whatever live fish are left.” Similar situations were relayed by other farmers like Nguyen Lien, who had 20 cages with over 30,000 juvenile fish also facing the same fate. Lien indicated, “The fish started dying right as the river water changed color following the release of water from the upstream dams. Now we’re trying to save the remaining fish, but our investment of over 360 million VND seems lost.”
Farmers are not the only ones affected; the regional economy is facing significant impacts. According to the authorities, roughly 90% of the fish stock has been lost, translating to approximately 10 billion juvenile fish dead, with each affected household experiencing damages ranging from 100 to 500 million VND, depending on the scale of their operations.
According to Chairman of the Duy Nghia People’s Committee, Diep Tan Luc, the preliminary investigation points toward unusual rainfall reducing salinity levels downstream too quickly for the fish to adapt, particularly since Acetes japonicus thrives best in brackish waters. “This abrupt change led to mass casualties among the fish farms. To combat this situation, we advised our residents to move their cages to the Hong Trieu pier to minimize exposure to the fresh water flowing from upstream and instructed them to increase aeration efforts for the surviving fish,” noted Luc.
Luc also mentioned, “We have 43 households raising fish with 615 cages along the Thu Bon River, primarily focusing on Acetes japonicus. The mortality rate varies widely, but initial estimates indicate around 300 tons of fish have died across these farms.” Throughout this ordeal, many fish farmers expressed anxiety as they faced potential debt and financial ruin due to their investments. “My family borrowed extensively to start this business only to see it wash away,” lamented another local farmer, Nguyen Viet, who recently lost over 25,000 juvenile shrimp, leading him to incur losses exceeding 300 million VND.
By the evening of February 27, it was clear the situation was dire. Bui Ngoc Anh, the Director of the Quang Nam Department of Agriculture and Environment, revealed, “Upon learning of the mass die-off, we ordered the Fisheries Sub-Department and relevant agencies to investigate and collect data on the damage suffered by the local fish farmers.” He emphasized the urgency to address the situation, insisting on proper disposal of the deceased fish to prevent environmental contamination.
Initial reports indicate the drastic change was precipitated by the release of water from three major reservoirs upstream - Song Trach 2, Song Trach 4, and Dak Mi 4 - which had to manage increasing water levels due to heavy rainfall. The simultaneous release of water, which peaked at 300 cubic meters per second, inundated many lower areas of the river with fresh water, disrupting the delicate balance required for Acetes japonicus survival.
Environmental experts express concern over this event, reinforcing the need for careful consideration of dam operations, as such actions can have rippling ramifications for local ecosystems and economies. The local government is currently undertaking assessments to gather concrete data on the cause of the fish deaths and ascertain what measures could be employed to alleviate the financial burdens faced by the community impacted by this catastrophe.
This incident is not only emblematic of the challenges faced by aquaculture industries but also poses broader questions about the relationship between hydroelectric management and aquatic life. Local residents remain vigilant, hoping for assistance from the government to navigate this unexpected financial downturn. Amid these significant changes both environmentally and economically, the path forward remains uncertain for the fish farming community along the Thu Bon River.