Dong ThapMr. Le Van Co, 50 years old, raises eels using a circulating filter system to help save costs, protect the environment, and meet export standards to Japan.
Mr. Co has more than 20 years of experience raising catfish. At the end of last year, he switched to raising ebony eels, following orders from a Japanese partner. This species is raised commercially by many farmers in ponds and rafts, but its economic value is not high and is mainly consumed domestically.
The man from Long Khanh A commune, Hong Ngu district, said he has two sons studying abroad in Japan, and many relatives also live here. Many times when he went to Japan, he visited eel (Japanese eel) farms. Realizing that the Tien River watershed has all the favorable factors to raise this species, he proposed that the partner transfer technology and cover the output.
“The six months of winter in Japan are very cold, there must be a heating system for eels. Meanwhile, our country has a hot climate all year round. The Tien River watershed is an abundant source of clean water,” he analyzed.
Initially, he built an 800 m2 farm in his hometown, next to the Tien River with 10 tanks, experimentally raising 25,000 animals to learn about the species’ behavior and get acquainted with the circulating water filtration system. The tank has a capacity of 20 m3, lined with tarpaulin underneath. Total investment cost is about 4.5 billion VND.
Mr. Co said, according to the process, water is taken from the Tien River through a sedimentation tank, then put into a circulating system including physical filtration, microbiological treatment, oxygen supply and then put into the aquarium system. This process takes three days. Water in the aquarium will be circulated through the system every day to treat impurities, harmful organisms and add new oxygen. Every hour the system will process a 20 m3 aquarium.
“The amount of water lost due to evaporation and impurities accounts for 4%, meaning that every day, we only need to replenish the amount lost and reuse up to 96%, both saving water and protecting the environment because it is not discharged outside. outside”, he analyzed, adding that the amount of wastewater will be treated to grow hydroponic vegetables, taking advantage of nutrients rich in protein.
That’s the process, but when applying it in practice, he encountered many difficulties. After a month of stocking, the fish floated their heads and gradually died. He checked and found that the fish’s gills were infected with parasitic bacteria, causing them to become infected and spread quickly. “Each fish costs 20,000 VND. They die constantly, losing tens of millions of VND every day,” the man in his fifties said.
Right from the beginning, he anticipated difficulties because the Japanese process could not be 100% similar when applied in Vietnam – where the weather, soil and fish seeds are different. The model owner and fisheries engineers gradually learn the cause and how to fix it, such as raising oxygen levels and changing care procedures. It took nearly 6 months, but the whole group was happy when the fish gradually adapted and grew quickly.
After nearly a year of raising eels, he realized that this fish species is suitable in an environment of 28-30 degrees Celsius. On average, 1.5 kg of food (52 protein levels – price 144,000 kg) produces 1 kg of commercial fish. The farming process requires strict control from input water source to indicators, especially oxygen solubility. Because they are raised in a circulating water environment, just a small mistake can cause all tanks to have problems and heavy damage.
Depending on the size of the fingerlings initially raised, they can be sold for sale within 3-12 months. The Japanese partner ordered the size from 250-300 grams, the fish meat has moderate fat. Last week, the partner directly visited Mr. Co’s farm, tried the grilled eel dish and praised it for its deliciousness. They promised to check one more time next time before ordering to export to Japan.
At this point, Mr. Co breathed a sigh of relief and felt somewhat reassured. It is expected that after the first shipment, he will increase the capacity to 100 tanks, with an output of 100 tons per year. Regarding expected revenue, the farm owner has not yet shared because he is negotiating the selling price with partners, but believes this is a new, sustainable direction for the Mekong River watershed.
Mr. Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, after directly visiting the farm, said that the new model with a strict farming process, meeting import requirements into Japan, will be a new direction, taking advantage of the farm. local advantages.
“Mr. Co has promoted his experience in production, thoroughly researched the market and partners, applied modern and appropriate technology, which is considered a successful lesson of the model,” Mr. Phong said and added a model. The image is an effective demonstration of the professional farmer campaign that the province is launching.
Ebony eels live in freshwater but when they mature, they migrate to the sea to reproduce. This is an animal that is afraid of light, likes to be active at night, and lives in deep caves in rivers and streams. In Japan, eel rice (how the Japanese call eel) is among the most popular dishes.
Ngoc Tai