A close-up of the ‘million dollar’ sturgeon breeding farm in Vietnam

The appearance of the giant Beluga sturgeon in Vietnam has surprised many people. These fish are being raised in the Son La hydroelectric lake, where one of the farms of the Vietnam Sturgeon Group.
How is Beluga sturgeon “super” raised?

Beluga fish is owned by Vietnam Sturgeon Group (CTVN) and has been raised since 2010 on farms in Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, Binh Dinh, Lam Dong, Son La. According to the representative of the group, CTVN has a stock of about 5 million fish, of which the Beluga sturgeon has a number of nearly 100,000, reaching a weight of 5-30 kg / fish, especially fish weighing up to 80 kg. CTVN is currently one of the few units that can breed sturgeon in Vietnam. In 2007, CTVN Group established sturgeon hatcheries in Vietnam, located in Tuyen Lam Lake, City. Da Lat. Broodstock were selected from fish farms in Germany and Russia. At the beginning of its establishment, the first batch of hatchlings were imported and technically supported by Russian experts. By 2010, when the first herds of fish matured, Caviar de Duc sturgeon eggs were on the market, considered the first batch of fish successfully propagated in Vietnam. According to the representative of the group, CTVN’s rearing procedures are followed by special technology consulted by leading Russian experts. In addition to meticulous care according to the scientific regime, CTVN’s farms are also located in hydroelectric reservoirs at an altitude of 500-900m, where there is great flow and clean water all year round, heat. The coolness is about 18-27 degrees Celsius, ensuring all parameters of water quality, environment no different from the natural growth zones of sturgeon in Europe. The production process of the CTVN farm system has been rigorously tested and certified to meet VietGap standards, and at the same time is continuously improving and consolidating the quality indicators system towards GlobalGap standards. As a result, sturgeon raised on CTVN farms retain its inherent natural taste, and the quality of meat and fish eggs is not inferior to that of wild caught sturgeon. Protect fish “million dollars” After more than 10 years of establishment and development, CTVN’s farm system has expanded with an area of ​​about 160,000 square meters. Previously, Vietnam had to import fish eggs from abroad, now CTVN can produce breed eggs by themselves. In particular, the fact that CTVN is a rare unit in Vietnam and Southeast Asia owning a rare and super-rare Beluga herd marks a major turning point in the development of our country’s cold-water fisheries. Beluga is one of the special sturgeon species, known as the “million dollar” fish because not only fish have high nutritional value, but their eggs are very rare. A mature Beluga fish for eggs in the natural environment requires 20 years of age and an adult weight can reach 900 kg. Beluga sturgeon eggs have a market price of between $ 7,000 and $ 10,000 / kg, among the top 10 most luxurious dishes on the planet. Beluga fish meat is delicious and firm, nutritious, healthy, is a nutritious dish with high content of calcium and phosphorus as well as protein, selenium, iron, magnesium and vitamins B12, B6, vitamin C, A and D and especially Omega-3 fatty acids. Regular use of sturgeon and caviar is beneficial for brain function, helps reduce the risk of depression, prevent heart disease, foster the body and restore health. However, in Vietnam, the number of people who have the opportunity to enjoy this rare fish meat is very few because there was no place in our country where Beluga could raise them for commercial purposes. In addition, this fish is an endangered species, so in the world, it is declining about 60% in the wild and is still the red listed fish. Therefore, having a unit like CTVN succeeding in breeding and breeding sturgeon in general and Beluga in particular has brought a lot of meaning in preserving nature, bringing economic and social values. According to CTVN, the group can bring to domestic and international high-end products including Beluga fish meat and Caviar (black fish roe) with great reach. CTVN Group currently has 6 member companies operating in the field of egg hatching and breeding, sturgeon rearing and black caviar production with Caviar De Duc brand – the brand named National Brand 2020. Website: http://catam.vn/