A pilot programme “Eco-friendly aquaculture on Ha Long Bay” launched in mid-2016 in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has been a success for local fishermen.
Conducted by the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development and partners, the programme is part of the “Ha Long - Cat Ba Alliance Initiative” for 2014-2017 funded by the US government.
In April 2016, the programme was launched in Vung Vieng fishing village on Vung Ha islands, Ha Phong ward, Ha Long city.
Under the programme, 32 boat houses and rafts will be installed for aquaculture and tourism between now and 2018, with seven of them already operating, attracting hundreds of tourists daily. Half of the funds funding for the programme are sourced from Van Chai cooperative, with the remainder from the project.
Beneficiaries only pay for breeding fish and after three years they can buy the boat houses if they wish.
According to planning for aquaculture on Ha Long Bay, each participating household will be provided 300sq.m of water area and 180 sq.m of boat houses.
Tang Van Phien, Director of Van Chai cooperative, said the first seven aquaculture farming households will raise money for a production fund.
He said the cooperative was born in 2008, offering rowing as a major tourist product with 60 small bamboo craft, 115 kayaks and five dragon-shaped boats, creating 115 jobs with monthly income of 5-6 million VND (217 - 260 USD).
Phien said the cooperative had outlined a plan to offer responsible tours to foreign visitors. In 2008-2013, responsible tours were held in Vung Vieng, benefiting village households to the tune of about 2 billion VND.
About 15,000 travel to the fishing village each month, even up to 21,000 during peak months, which has pressured the environment. The cooperative assigned two workers to collect garbage and equipped 60 small bamboo crafts with garbage collecting equipment.
The cooperative drew 5,000 VND per guest from service fees to renovate a lab facility.
Nguyen Van Cong, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, attributed the success of the programme to full awareness of responsible tourism of all participating stakeholders and tourists as well.