Applying high technology in fingerling production

With its extensive network of ponds, reservoirs, and water surfaces, Dong Nai Province has developed a strong aquaculture sector. As a result, demand for fingerlings in the province is both significant and full of potential. However, for many years, the province’s aquatic breeding industry has remained fragmented and small-scale.

Fingerling nursery area at Phu Dien Fish Aquaculture Farm (Phu Hoa commune). Photo: Binh Nguyen

Recently, many fingerling production facilities and farms have boldly adopted high technology and expanded fingerling production for the market, contributing to local economic development and strengthening the competitive edge of the province's aquaculture industry.

Great market potential

According to some owners of fingerling production facilities, investing in hatchery operations is not easy, as it requires substantial capital and strict technical standards. Suitable locations must also have clean water sources and stable weather conditions.

Pham Hong Dac Cong, the eastern regional representative of Long Thang International Co., Ltd. in Long An Province, noted that Dong Nai is a major consumer market for aquatic feed and aquatic seed stock. In aquatic seed production, Dong Nai province also has great potential. However, seed production, besides requiring favorable weather and good water sources, also demands the application of advanced science and technology. Accordingly, many seed facilities in Dong Nai province still operate mainly on a small, self-sufficient scale because they lack many of the competitive advantages of the Mekong Delta provinces, the cradle of fingerling production.

To demonstrate the quality of their fingerlings, some hatcheries have invested in pilot farming models using concrete tanks or lined ponds, allowing farmers to observe and evaluate results firsthand. These facilities also focus on developing technical processes and transferring farming techniques to farmers, forming sustainable value chains from seed production to commercial aquaculture.

Recognizing the strong demand for fish seed, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, owner of Phu Dien Fish Aquaculture Farm in Phu Hoa Commune, invested in fish seed production in 2016 to supply the farm's cage-farming system. In the early days, Thanh mainly purchased fry and raised them into fingerlings. But with the advantage of operating 166 fish cages on the La Nga River, Phu Dien Fish Aquaculture Farm now supplies the market with several tons of commercial fish of various kinds each day. This supplier is also the source from which the farm owner selects qualified fish to rear as broodstock.

Thanh shared that producing fingerlings locally for ponds, lakes, and fish cages in the area offers many advantages. In particular, once stocked, the fingerlings are not exposed to abrupt environmental changes, adapt readily, and experience low mortality. Therefore, his aspiration remains to invest in a large-scale fingerling production farm that can not only ensure a self-sufficient supply of fingerlings for his family's cage-farming system but also serve the market both inside and outside the province, where demand for fingerlings is very high.

However, investing in fingerling production is not easy, as it requires substantial capital, large pond areas, and access to clean water sources. After a period of accumulation, Thanh has established a fingerling production farm spanning more than 40 hectares, where he has successfully tested and finalized the technical process for producing a range of fingerling species.

Increasing competitive advantage through high technology

Fingerling production offers higher profits and faster capital turnover compared to commercial fish farming. This feature has encouraged several facilities in Dong Nai to invest heavily in advanced technologies for seed production.

Nguyen Ngoc Thanh added that his farm is collaborating with a major aquaculture enterprise to scale up high-quality fingerling production using modern technologies. The farm currently maintains several tons of broodstock and can produce around 500 tons of fish seed per month, including carp, silver carp, red tilapia, and tilapia. It is also focusing on high-value specialty species such as catfish, yellow catfish, eel catfish, and loach.

“While common fish sell for only a few tens of thousands of VND per kilogram, specialty fish can fetch between VND 150,000 and VND 200,000 per kilogram. Producing seed for these species brings significantly higher value,” Thanh said.

Phung Trung Nhan, an aquaculture engineer at Phu Dien Fish Aquaculture Farm, noted that production conditions in Phu Hoa Commune are more challenging than in many traditional breeding areas in the Mekong Delta that have strengths in fish fingerling production. Temperatures here fluctuate sharply during the day, whereas fingerling production requires stable conditions. However, thanks to the application of advanced technologies and strict process controls, local fingerling production now matches that of other regions in both output and quality.

Truong Son Fingerling and Commercial Fish Facility in Song Ray Commune is one of the pioneers in the large-scale production of fish and eel seed in the locality. In addition to producing common freshwater species, the facility also breeds high-value species, including eel, loach, and koi.

Ngo Chien Thang, owner of Truong Son Fingerling and Commercial Fish Facility, emphasized that high-tech application is key to achieving both quantity and quality. His operation produces its own probiotics for water treatment, reducing labor and costs by eliminating the need for daily water changes. This approach also helps maintain a clean aquatic environment and prevent disease. Notably, the facility uses 100% herbal remedies instead of antibiotics for disease prevention and treatment in fish and eel seed.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho