Residents of Duy Nghia commune, located along the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam Province, are grappling with the aftermath of a distressing ecological disaster affecting their livelihoods. Over the past few days, nearly 300 tons of fish have been reported dead, leaving local fish farmers devastated.
Beginning on February 26, 2025, fish farmers observed alarming changes in the river's water quality. Witnesses reported the water turning muddy, coinciding with the mass die-off of fish, particularly the prized cá dìa, or flatfish. By the evening of the same day, numerous fish floated lifelessly on the water's surface, prompting farmers to urgently pull their nets ashore.
Among the affected was Nguyễn Liên from the Hội Sơn village, who recounted his experience, explaining, “Right now, my family is cleaning up the dead fish, trying to aerate the remaining live ones because the investment was so substantial.” He raised around 30,000 one-month-old fish, costing him around 300 million VND (approximately $12,700), not including feeding and care costs.
Another local, Nguyễn Cường, expressed similar despair. Having raised 30,000 fish across 15 nets since before the Tết holiday, the sudden decline was catastrophic. He shared, “The fish were thriving until February 26. Afterward, they began struggling, and now almost all are dead. With the current situation, I’ve lost about 400 million VND—I borrowed money from family to invest.”
According to reports, Duy Nghia is home to 43 households engaging in fish farming, with around 615 cages lining the Thu Bon River. Farmers have estimated losses to be staggering, with approximately 60-90% of their fish dying across various cages. The initial assessments predict most households endured losses between 100 million and 500 million VND.
Diệp Tấn Lực, Chairman of the Duy Nghia People's Committee, acknowledged the predicament of local fish farms. He explained, “After the mass fish deaths were reported, the local authorities advised citizens to bring the fish cages closer to the harbor to protect them from the river's upstream flows.” He believes the primary cause of the fish deaths lies with the unusual discharge of water from hydroelectric dams, which drastically altered the water's salinity level, adversely affecting fish accustomed to brackish water. This sudden change left many fish unable to adapt. He stated, "The cause of the fish deaths is the hydroelectric plants releasing water, which has suddenly reduced the salinity level downstream of the Thu Bon River. The changes caused cá dìa, which prefer brackish water, to be unable to adapt quickly."
The situation escalated after heavy rainfall caused by cold fronts on February 24, 2025, disrupting the region's water quality. Multiple hydroelectric reservoirs were noted to have increased their outflow rates between 10m³/s and 300m³/s, exacerbated by the influx of muddy water.
For local residents, the fish kill marks not just financial losses but could signify long-term environmental impacts on their fishing grounds. The agricultural loss looms heavily over Duy Nghia, where many inhabitants depend on aquaculture as their primary source of income.
The cumulative disaster has also raised concerns about regulatory measures surrounding the local hydroelectric facilities. Despite the noticeable damage to the fish farming communities, the authorities had not projected or warned the residents about the magnitude of water release from the dams.
The local government is now under pressure to investigate the full scope of the problem. Community leaders are urging for more stringent oversight over dam operations to prevent recurrence and reduce the vulnerability of the environment and livelihoods.
People are left wondering if this fish kill incident is indicative of larger, systemic issues related to water management and environmental protections. Farmers hope for assistance and solutions to recover from this disaster, as they strive to revive their struggling aquaculture operations.
Moving forward, recovery will not be immediate, and many farmers will likely face hard choices about their future. Highway and riverbank cleanup operations plan to continue amid discussions about long-term strategies aimed at preventing similar ecological catastrophes.
Until then, the sorrow and uncertainty linger over Duy Nghia as the community looks for answers and support.