Ham Ninh fishing village is located at the foot of Ham Ninh mountain in Ham Ninh commune, Phu Quoc island district, Kien Giang province, about 20km northeast of Duong Dong town center. Photo: Bestplus. The fishing village is an ancient, unspoiled village with a rustic look of very simple thatched-walled houses. People mainly live by fishing, catching crabs, shrimps, diving to catch sea cucumbers, catching pearls… Photo: Khanh Dao. The fishing village is located at the foot of Ham Ninh mountain. Photo: Hqha1255. Standing at the vast Ham Ninh beach, but the beach is very shallow to the far reaches, when the tide recedes to reveal a vast sandy beach, you can go under the beach to find snails and clams to make peace. As a friend or as a souvenir, when the tide is high, the sea water rises to the edge of the forest, this is also the shelter of boats and ships, when the sea breeze in Indochina is busy, come here to take shelter. strong wind. Photo: Mapio. Ham Ninh wharf. Photo: Salindaresort. In the afternoon on Ham Ninh beach, you can watch the blue sea, in the distance are the Hai Tac archipelago, Nghe islet looming in the sea. Photo: Eric Khoa Vu. Photo: Rosa. The two grandchildren are catching oysters. Photo: Tony Pham Tran. Coming to Ham Ninh fishing village, you should not miss the opportunity to watch the sunrise. Photo: Highlandbungalow. Photo: Itours. Coming to Ham Ninh fishing village, it is impossible to ignore the fresh seafood dishes, almost always there is a fresh stop for you to enjoy, the crabs and shrimp here are very cheap and very delicious. Crab is considered a specialty seafood in Ham Ninh fishing village. Photo: Roxmaf. Photo: Chuong67

Virtual life and death! Recently on many travel forums, the story of a tourist posting photos of starfish dying dry due to being taken ashore to take pictures of “virtual life” in Rach Vem, Phu Quoc has attracted a lot of attention. Most of the comments are outraged by the ignorant actions of some young people that lead to the undue death of the marine species that is the symbol of this sea. Getting starfish ashore has become a “habit” of some tourists. On websites, many accounts constantly share check-in pictures of celebrities who use starfish as virtual living tools without knowing that just a few dozen seconds from the water surface, the starfish will die now. Prof. Dr. Do Cong Thung, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Marine Resources and Environment, said that starfish breathe through the legs and papillae (tiny particles spread all over the body). These tubular legs and papillae are equipped with a very thin layer of tissue, allowing gases to pass easily, whether inhaling oxygen (O2) or exhaling carbon dioxide (CO2), in a process known as is diffuse. Unlike fish with only two gills, the starfish is covered with papillae throughout the body. In other words, their “noses” or “gills” are scattered all over the body surface. When not in water, starfish not only cannot absorb the necessary oxygen. Therefore, they cannot remove carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide (CO) from the body. This leads to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide poisoning and causes death. Most starfish can only hold their breath for less than 30 seconds. Sea stars, sea cucumbers and corals, are naturally born with fragile, fragile creatures. Just a light touch can hurt them. The act of bringing them out of the water is a brutal act of killing this endemic aquatic species. “When taken out of the water, starfish will die within about a minute. The act of catching starfish out of the water to take pictures is very dangerous. It threatens the life of this species. Beaches with starfish need to give warnings, otherwise starfish species will be in danger of scarcity and extinction, losing the value of marine habitat “, Prof.Dr Do Cong Thung said. And Mr. Nguyen Linh Ngoc, a marine conservation expert in Phu Quoc, said that many tourists take starfish out of the water to take pictures, then drop them right away. But when left in the sun on the shore, they die quickly. Starfish have no economic value like sea cucumber or seahorse. Starfish are normal seafood objects. It is not an ecological indicator animal of little scientific value. It is a crustacean that no one eats because it doesn’t have meat. Tourists like mainly the shape it looks like a star. In terms of marine conservation, there is also no regulation prohibiting the exploitation of starfish because this species is not included in the conservation list. But starfish create beautiful scenery for the marine environment, attracting huge visitors. Therefore, the protection of starfish mainly depends on the awareness of visitors as well as reminders of the resorts. An important role in the ecosystem Vietnam has 60 different species of starfish distributed along the coast from North to South, Nha Trang Bay alone has discovered 20 species belonging to 16 genera, 11 families and 4 orders. In Cat Ba, Hai Phong, a starfish beach with an area of ​​up to 5 hectares is home to shallow trench starfish and deep-trench starfish with a high density of about 20 individuals / m2. Starfish food is fish, snails, clams, squid, shrimp and other molluscs. Some starfish species have the ability to turn their stomachs out to cover large foods and then digest themselves outside of their bodies. Vietnam has species such as starfish, blue starfish, pillow starfish, crunchy starfish … Each different species has a certain role, contributing to the general ecosystem, especially creating continuity in the chain. Food that once this food chain is destroyed will have a little or no impact on an entire ecosystem. Mr. Le Chien, Head of Sasa Marine Life Rescue Center, said that touching, holding, touching and catching starfish and sea creatures ashore is extremely offensive. It is being strongly condemned in many countries around the world. When people touch marine organisms, bacteria and chemicals from sunscreen, soap … on their hands can attack directly on their soft tissue. Organisms that have never been exposed and that do not have immune systems to bacteria from humans will be severely affected, even if they may not die immediately. In addition, starfish are only capable of sun exposure for a certain period of time, so bringing them ashore is extremely dangerous. In addition, not all marine life is harmless to humans. If you touch the wrong starfish species, people can be burned, shocked and killed. Not to mention there are many other toxic species such as snail. This job is also playing with their lives and loved ones. Prof.Dr Do Cong Thung said, starfish is a key species (keystone species) in the ecosystem. They are omnivores that feed mainly on scavengers, molluscs, small fish, algae or organic residues. There are more than 1,900 species of starfish around the world, living in all depths of the oceans. They play a very important role in the organic circulation, operating the ecosystem in which they exist. Therefore, the absence or degradation of starfish can lead to the collapse of the marine ecosystem.

Stewed black chicken with chestnuts: 500g black chicken, 100g chestnut kernel, enough onion; ginger 5g, alcohol 20ml, cooking oil 30ml. Black chickens clean feathers, remove organs, wash, chop pieces, blanch over, take out basket to drain. Put the pot on the stove, add cooking oil and scallions, then pour the chicken, stir fry it, add the chestnuts to the top, pour the ginseng water into the cellar until it is ripe, seasoning is ok. The dish is rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins. Sea cucumber soup Sea cucumber soup: 100g soaked sea cucumber, 20g bamboo shoots, 5g shiitake mushrooms, vegetable oil, alcohol, monosodium glutamate, minced onion, minced ginger, salt, pepper powder just enough. Sliced ​​sea cucumber, shredded bamboo shoots, onion, ginger, add it to the broth, add sea cucumbers, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, boil the spices, sprinkle with pepper powder. Served in meals. The use of kidney tonic benefits gas, increases the number and quality of sperm. Goat meat porridge with silkworm pupae: 50g silkworm pupae, 50g goat meat, 50g ordinary rice, just enough spices. Washed goat meat cut into small pieces, fried silkworm pupae, two things mixed together, seasoned to taste. Cook rice into porridge just cooked, then add the above two to stir well, cook porridge well. 2 times a day in the morning and afternoon. Eat continuously for 7-10 days.

Fresh and dried seahorses and sea dragons are available for sale at Ham Ninh market. With fresh seahorses, it costs about 5 to 8 million VND / kg, but if bought retail, a pair of large seahorses cost about 80,000 VND, the smaller pair, about 40,000 VND. With dried seahorses if straight tail (dried while alive) costs 70 thousand VND / fish, while the dried seahorses cost about 40 thousand VND / fish … The market of Ham Ninh fishing village is located right next to the wharf and for those who first come to Phu Quoc will be surprised to see countless fresh seahorses almost all colors brown, black, yellow, pink … all kinds are sold in large pots, small pots, with oxygen tubing. In the provinces bordering the western waters of the country, Phu Quoc is considered the largest natural seahorse beak. January to April each year is the breeding season of seahorses when they find rock caves, dead coral reefs … to mate. This was also the time when Phu Quoc fishermen caught the most seahorses and sold them crowdedly in Ham Ninh market. In addition to customers who buy for self-treatment and processing, many vendors at the “miracle” market are willing to soak for customers with “miracles” … … from cleaning seahorses and sea dragons to selling both. white wines and bottles or jugs for soaking. According to Ut Map, who has sold seahorses in Ham Ninh for more than ten years, with seahorses, saliva works best, second is the eyes. When soaking in alcohol, fresh seahorses will produce saliva, so the effect is better than dried ones, so if soaking 10 fresh seahorses, with dried seahorses to soak up to 20. Seahorses here have two types, spiny type and non-spiny type. The spiny-free type is purchased faster by the middlemen because the wine is less fishy when soaked like the spiny fish. Because of the use of seahorses for the health of men passed from each other, Ham Ninh is considered to be a place that specializes in selling all kinds of “preventive medicine”. In addition to seahorses, also known as walruses, there are sea dragons, which are similar in use to seahorses, which are widely sold in dry food stalls. Along with seahorses, many visitors are overwhelmed by another kind of “miracle” that is probably only available in the “miracle” market, which is seal seal, sea cow seal is hung or sold right on the front plastic trays store. Another kind of miracle that the gentlemen are looking for is sea cucumber, but in Phu Quoc it is quite rare, but at the Ham Ninh market it is still present. Although it is a natural seahorse beak, but in Phu Quoc this very cute animal is being caught in the way of salvation and destruction due to the large purchasing power of tourists. According to incomplete statistics, each year about 1 million seahorses are caught in the waters of Phu Quoc.

Open up livelihood opportunities Currently, the farming of sea cucumbers in Vietnam needs 20 million breeds of sea cucumbers, but in the country, it is only active about 1 million breeds of sea cucumbers to serve the needs of the farmers, while the white sea cucumber breeds have. 5 times the value of sand sea cucumber is still difficult. To study the breeding of white-breasted sea cucumber, Institute III collaborated with USC University to implement the project to improve production of high-value sea cucumber through molecular technology. Raising white-breasted sea cucumbers by cages in Van Ninh sea. With the use of a hormone produced at USC University, extracted from the nerves of the sea cucumber itself, then transplanted into yeast to multiply on a large scale in the laboratory, effectively stimulating reproduction. High and does not affect the health of white-breasted sea cucumber parents. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy – project manager said: Using hormones instead of traditional methods has stimulated the reproduction of white breasted sea cucumber successfully. The project has produced nearly 20,000 breeders for commercial experiments and breeding trials on cages in Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh with 3 households participating. Commercial white sea cucumber. Mr. Nguyen Duc Thoai (Dam Mon village, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district) raised white-breasted sea cucumber experiment on cages said, after 8 months of raising, from the breed with a weight of about 0.3 grams increased to gain amount of 60 grams, survival rate reached 92%. The successful production of white-breasted sea cucumber will open up opportunities to create livelihoods for aquaculture farmers in the province in the near future. Reduce natural extraction pressure According to the leaders of the Fisheries Department, the successful production of white sea cucumber will help diversify aquatic breeds, reduce the pressure of natural exploitation, especially serving the strategic direction of fisheries development of the province during the period. next time; At the same time, contributing to environmental protection … However, white sea cucumber is often distributed at a depth of tens of meters, so the stocking in cages at low depths, whether it really brings efficiency is required. specific reviews. In this regard, scientists believe that, before, white-breasted sea cucumber distributed a lot in shallow areas. However, due to the rarity and overexploitation, sea cucumbers have higher and higher depth distribution. Therefore, raising white-breasted sea cucumber in the cage is very positive, helping to improve the environment very well. Currently, the output of white-breasted sea cucumber is mainly purchased by Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company. “Products of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company 90% for export markets: Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and in the near future will expand markets in the US, China … Besides processing dried sea cucumber. , the company also produces products that consumers can slice using fresh. Currently, the company boosts purchasing in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen. The company can afford to buy products for white-breasted sea cucumber farmers, ”said Mr. Le Thanh Nhan – Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company. FLASH LA

Tourists move on Quan Lan island commune. (Source: Quang Ninh Newspaper) 10/4 evening, at Quan Lan island commune , The People’s Committee of Van Don district (Quang Ninh) announced the Decision of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province to recognize Quan Lan-Minh Chau Tourist Area , Van Don district is the tourist area of ​​the province. According to the plan, two communes on Minh Chau and Quan Lan islands of Van Don district were built to become High-class eco-tourism area , service Tourist Resort high-end. It is expected that the total planned tourist area of ​​these two island communes is over 4,360ha; of which Minh Chau commune is about 724ha, Quan Lan commune is about 3,636ha; Out of this land area, there are 2,750ha of land in Canh Cuoc, Mang island, Sao Ba island, Giai island, Soi Sat island, about 1,610ha of wetland and water surface. Planning orientation of the center of Quan Lan commune is developed into an old quarter with night activities. New houses will be arranged in existing residential areas in the center of two island communes. The area of ​​the main road across the island will give priority to service works associated with commercial and mixed services of high quality. The hilly and mountainous area will take advantage of the views and landscapes to develop high-end resorts. In the coastal area, resort beaches will be developed in association with the protection of Tram forest ecosystem, special-use forest, and mangrove ecosystem. Minh Chau and Quan Lan island communes are located on Quan Lan island, located in the middle of Bai Tu Long bay, associated with the history of Van Don commercial port. The beaches on Quan Lan Island are long, white sand, smooth, and clear blue water differentiate Quan Lan from the northern beaches. As an ancient trading port of Van Don, the island has Quan Lan Lighthouse built by the French in the early 19th century with clusters of relics of communal houses, pagodas and temples. In particular, this sea area has specialties such as rock crabs, sea urchin crabs, sea cucumbers, sea cucumbers, and rare seafood only developed in this sea area. At the announcement ceremony, a number of activities were held: a welcome show, motorbike parade of the Quang Ninh Federation of Motorcycles and Sports Bikes on the road to the two communes of Quan Lan island – Minh Chau. The announcement ceremony is an opportunity to promote the image of the land, people, tourism products of Van Don island district to tourists, domestic and foreign investors, creating a variety of activities to serve guests. playing when visiting tourism in the district; at the same time, raising people’s awareness of the mission of developing tourism products, contributing to building Van Don as a friendly, safe and attractive destination. This is also an activity in response to a chain of events to stimulate tourism in Quang Ninh province and Van Don district in 2021./.

After sunset in Jaffna, Anthony Vigrado dived into the waters of Palk Bay to catch sea cucumbers – a prickly skin creature that has grown in value and has been his main source of income for the past 12 years.

But after 10 hours of searching, what he got is a fraction of what he used to be. The reason is that sea cucumbers have been extensively exploited in the northern coasts of Sri Lanka and southern India.

Treasures of the sea

“Illegal fishermen are fishing illegally in the places where we often dive for sea cucumbers. We are losing income and a livelihood for them, ”said the 31-year-old fisherman.

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms with a soft, tubular body resembling a vegetable of the same name. Photo: Guardian.

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms with a soft, tubular body resembling a vegetable of the same name. They are an unusual animal but play an important role in the marine ecosystem. When they eat debris in sediments, they regenerate nutrients and excrete nitrogen, ammonia and calcium carbonate – components that make up coral reefs. Sea cucumber also helps slow ocean acidification due to human activity.

The demand for sea cucumbers is huge in China and Southeast Asian countries, where they are processed into delicious dishes and used in traditional remedies. Dried sea cucumber is called calche-de-mer or trepang. They are also considered by many, especially China, an aphrodisiac.

This has made the sea cucumber trade become “super profitable”. Therefore, this animal is in danger of extinction. In the 1980s, sea cucumber was priced below 70 USD / kg, now the price has increased to more than 270 USD / kg. The rare species cost up to nearly 3,500 USD / kg.

Over the years, sea cucumbers in Palk Bay and Mannar Bay are overfished. For the most expensive species, the number of individuals has dropped by more than 60% globally.

Fishermen harvested sea cucumbers caught on Mannar Bay. Photo: Guardian.

Now, this tiny tropical island has become a hotspot for smuggling and illegal sea cucumber fishing. Like Vigrado, more than 10,000 fishing families living along Sri Lanka’s north coast are anxious about their livelihoods.

Chamari Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Sri Jayewardenepura University in Sri Lanka, said: “The number of sea cucumbers is plummeting due to overfishing. It affects the biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal fishermen who have long depended on this profession ”.

Vigrado said many illegal fishing boats damaged the facilities and equipment of local fishermen to catch sea cucumbers, causing some people to commit suicide because they could not pay the debt.

“They are grabbing everything”

AM Stanny Lambert, a 31-year-old fisherman from Vankalai in Mannar, said he was sad and angry at these crimes.

“It was unethical and we were stuck, because they were doing everything in front of us,” he said. Lambert and his father have been licensed to fish for 11 years and are the breadwinner of the family.

Most reported offenses take advantage of different regulations from neighboring countries. While Sri Lanka issued fishing permits and permits the export of sea cucumbers, India has completely banned all trade in these animals since 2001.

As a result, sea cucumbers are illegally caught in India and smuggled into Sri Lanka, where they are legally exported to Southeast Asia, or exported from India under fake labels.

Marine animal protection forces in Lakshadweep Islands, India seized 486 sea cucumbers died in March 2021. Photo: Lakshadweep Forest Management Board.

In August 2020, three men were caught smuggling nearly 1,000 kg of sea cucumber from Tamil Nadu in India to Sri Lanka via Mannar Bay. The Indian Coast Guard priced these sea cucumbers to nearly $ 700,000 in the international market. A similar case was reported in March 2021.

Teale Phelps Bondaroff, research director at OceansAsia, an organization that recently mapped sea cucumber arrests and seizures in the two countries, said: “If you have a legitimate market near a market, illegal, legal markets will become huge “fish wash” dens.

Exhausted

For many years, the Sri Lankan and Indian authorities have worked to combat this type of marine crime. But the growing number of arrests shows that illegal trade is spreading to areas that have never been affected before.

Nowadays, as the value of animals is increasing, exploitation is also becoming more common. Great demand for sea cucumbers has led to deadly violence in Mexico, related to yakuza criminal organizations in Japan, and smuggling between Tanzania and Zanzibar.

According to OceansAsia, the network of organized sea cucumber fishing and smuggling criminals is spreading from the Palk Bay and Mannar Bay into untapped areas of the Lakshadweep alliance, an archipelago off the west coast. South India.

Wild island of Suheli in Lakshadweep. Photo: Guardian.

In the largest recorded arrest, disclosure from local fishermen in February 2020 helped authorities find 1,716 sea cucumbers worth nearly $ 580,000 hidden in nearby coral reefs. Suheli deserted island.

“Resource depletion may be the main reason these people are looking for new locations. Lakshadweep is still pristine, which may be why merchants moved there, ”said Sajan John, head of the Marine Projects and Policy Management Unit at Wildlife Trust of India.

Realizing the seriousness of the crime of selling sea cucumbers, the local government reacted strongly. In February 2020, the world’s first sea cucumbers conservation area was established in Lakshadweep, anti-theft bases were established across the islands and Lakshadweep Sea cucumber Protection Task Force was established. established with the help of the Central Bureau of Investigation of India.

A batch of 416 dead sea cucumbers was seized on a deserted island off Perumal in Lakshadweep in March 2021. Photo: Lakshadweep Forest Management Board.

“The people of Lakshadweep understand the importance of sea cucumber because their livelihood depends on fishing. When sea cucumbers are affected, other fisheries are also affected, ”said Sivakumar Kuppusamy, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Wildlife.

But as the majority of illegally-caught and trafficked sea cucumbers continue to be smuggled into Sri Lanka, Kuppusamy agrees that while it is important to stop this illegal supply chain, educate the fighters. Illegally catching sea cucumbers correctly appreciates the importance of this animal is also important to protect them.

“We have to convince them of the role of sea cucumber in the ecosystem. Without sea cucumbers, they are jeopardizing the sea, ”he said. “That’s when they begin to realize that their livelihoods and their children’s futures will be affected.”

“Break that illegal supply chain and convince the fishermen – we have to do both. If not, this business will continue to grow ”.

The strange movement of a flying snake Some snakes are able to climb trees and “fly” from branch to branch with deliberate jumps. Scientists are investigating what makes them do that.

Mr. Andrew Barnes, the Australian Deputy Embassy in Hanoi and the delegation inspected the sea cucumber farming area in Van Ninh district (Khanh Hoa).

Attending the seminar were Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Embassy of Australia in Vietnam; representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the agriculture sectors of Khanh Hoa and Quang Ngai provinces.

In Vietnam, the project selected white-breasted sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscogilva) for research, hatchery production and nursery testing. After one year of implementation in Khanh Hoa and Quang Ninh, the results were positive. Evaluation shows that sea cucumber is suitable for natural conditions in Khanh Hoa. Specifically, from the seed with a weight of about 0.3g and then a weight of 60g, the survival rate reached 92%.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thoai, in Dam Mon village, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district (Khanh Hoa) is one of the three households implementing experimental farming, said sea cucumber grows and develops well, high survival rate. Therefore, he wants the project to continue to multiply on a large scale to serve farmers in need.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy, Deputy Director of Central National Center for Seafood Breeding, Research Institute for Aquaculture 3, said that the culture of hormones instead of traditional methods stimulated the reproduction of sea cucumbers. white success. Accordingly, the research team has produced nearly 20,000 breeders for commercial experiments and experimental farming.

“The results of the project initially bring about very positive results when successfully producing sea cucumber, the type of economic value 5 times higher than that of sand sea cucumber; At the same time, opening up opportunities to create livelihoods for farmers in the coming time as well as reducing the pressure on exploiting natural sea cucumbers that are endangered, contributing to environmental protection ”, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duy product.

Facing the results from the project, Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Embassy of Australia in Vietnam highly appreciated the cooperation between USC University and Research Institute for Aquaculture 3 to successfully produce white-breasted sea cucumber. with new methods, opening up valuable opportunities for the production of sea cucumbers for this industry. When he looked at the sea cucumbers farmed at sea in Van Ninh, he realized that the project goal was very clear, initially creating a new career for farmers, reducing the pressure of sea cucumber exploitation in the wild, contributing to protecting environmental protection and aquatic resource diversity.

Sea cucumbers raised in Dam Mon village, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province grew and developed well.

Representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Ngai expressed interest in the successful application of white breasted sea cucumber varieties. Currently, Quang Ngai does not have any model to raise sea cucumber. Sand sea cucumber has been cultured in the area for about 3 years now with remarkable results. Therefore, the province is oriented to develop sand sea cucumbers on a large scale, have seed stocked in Ly Son marine reserve in 2021 and soon approach research technology to produce white sea cucumber seed.

Regarding the stocking of sea cucumbers at the Ly Son marine reserve, Dr. Truong Ha Phuong, Deputy Director in charge of Research Institute of Aquaculture 3, said that it is expected that in the coming time, it will coordinate to stocking in the area. this field by artificial seed sources.

At the seminar, delegates also focused on discussing the possibility of commercialization and development direction of sea cucumber in Vietnam; in which the issue is of concern is the output of the product.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Nhan, Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company, which has a sea cucumber processing factory according to high standards of Japan, the US, is not only dry processing for export. sold crude. Although there are about 90% dry products on the world market, the company will produce products for consumers to use.

Nhan also said that in recent years, the company has boosted the purchase of sandy sea cucumber in Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. At the same time, confirmed to consume the output of sea cucumbers to ensure farmers because the company only consumes farmed sea cucumbers, not natural sea cucumbers. In the company’s strategy is to spend 90% of products for export and 10% for domestic service because the domestic market is not used to sea cucumber. The company’s products have also been exported and market expansion continues.

Sea cucumbers were cultured for trials in Khanh Hoa.

Prof. Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that technology to stimulate reproduction by hormone, Vietnam currently has not applied much. Therefore, with the successful production of white-breasted sea cucumber with this technology, it creates a breakthrough, opens up opportunities as well as creates a livelihood for farmers. However, for this technology to produce sea cucumber more successful, commercialization is needed.

According to Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director of Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Australia has supported Vietnam a lot in the agricultural sector recently; including seafood. Through cooperation, we grasp new technologies as well as enhance research capacity.

For sea cucumbers, in the past, Vietnam produced sandy sea cucumber by traditional methods such as heat stimulation, so it was not as active as hormone-based fertility stimulation. Mr. Ninh believes that with this technology, other rare and precious sea cucumbers will be successfully produced in the near future. On the other hand, it can reduce illegal exploitation at sea, contribute to overcoming IUU yellow card as well as serving strategic direction of fisheries development.

Initially raised and developed well

On April 14, Research Institute for Aquaculture 3 (Institute III) in collaboration with USC University (Australia) organized a workshop to evaluate the results of the project to improve production of high value sea cucumber through the public. molecular turmeric.

Accordingly, the above project comes from the project idea: Strength of cooperation between USC and Institute III on sea cucumber research.

Workshop scientists evaluate the results of successful production of white breast sea cucumber by molecular technology. Photo: KS.

In Vietnam, the component selected white-breasted sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscogilva) to research on hatchery production and rearing experiment led by Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy (Institute III).

According to Professor Abigail, USC (Australia), white-breasted sea cucumber is a species of high economic value, and Institute III is a place for reproductive research in sand sea cucumber, so it is very suitable to study white-breasted sea cucumber. have a lot of experience in this field.

Currently, aquaculture in Vietnam needs 20 million sea cucumbers. But currently there are only about 1 million breeds of ginseng. Therefore, the breeding of white-breasted sea cucumber is very necessary to meet the needs of the market, while increasing the economic value of sea cucumber.

White-breasted sea cucumber. Photo: KS.

With the use of a hormone produced at USC, extracted from the nerves of the sea cucumber itself, and then transplanted to a large-scale multiplication of mem fungi in the laboratory, the hormone has a stimulating effect. Like high reproduction and does not affect the health of the parent sea cucumber.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy confirmed, the use of hormones instead of traditional methods has stimulated the reproduction of white-breasted sea cucumber successfully.

Accordingly, the technology has produced nearly 20,000 breeders for experiments and commercial trials on cages in Khanh Hoa and Quang Ninh with 3 participating households.

Results after 8 months of farming, white breast sea cucumber achieved good results. Specifically, from seed with a weight of about 0.3 grams raised to 60 grams of weight and 92% survival rate.

Regarding the initial results of the experimental release of white-breasted sea cucumbers on cages, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thoai, from Dam Mon village, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district (Khanh Hoa) said that sea cucumber grows and develops well, high survival rate. Therefore, he wants the project to continue breeding on a large scale to serve farmers in need.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy shared: Initial project results bring very good results when successfully producing white-breasted sea cucumber, which has an economic value 5 times higher than that of sand sea cucumber. At the same time, opening up opportunities to create livelihoods for farmers in the coming time, as well as reducing the pressure on exploiting natural sea cucumbers that are endangered, contributing to environmental protection …

Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Embassy of Australia in Vietnam highly appreciated the cooperation between USC and Institute III that successfully produced white breast sea cucumber with a new method, opening up valuable opportunities to produce valuable sea cucumber for the industry. this row.

Not only that, when he surveyed the sea cucumbers farmed at sea in Van Ninh, the more clearly he saw that the project goal was very clear, initially creating a new profession for farmers, as well as reducing pressure to exploit sea cucumbers in natural, thereby protecting the environment better.

Reducing pressure on natural exploitation, opening up new economy

At the seminar, representatives of Quang Ngai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development expressed concern about the successful application of white breast sea cucumber varieties.

According to this representative, Quang Ngai does not currently have any model to raise white-breasted sea cucumber. Sand sea cucumbers have been cultured in the area for about 3 years now with good development results and efficiency. Therefore, Quang Ngai province is oriented to develop sand sea cucumber on a large scale.

Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Embassy of Australia in Vietnam visited the model of raising white-breasted sea cucumber in Van Phong bay, Van Ninh. Photo: MH.

GS. Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that technology to stimulate reproduction by hormones in Vietnam has not been applied much.

Therefore, with the successful production of white-breasted sea cucumber with this technology is truly breakthrough, opening up opportunities as well as creating a livelihood for growers. However, in order for the production of white-breasted sea cucumber to be more successful, commercialization is needed.

For white-breasted sea cucumber, the locality wants in 2021 to have seed to stock at Ly Son marine reserve and soon access research technology to produce white-breasted sea cucumber varieties.

Regarding the stocking of white-breasted sea cucumbers at Ly Son marine reserve, Dr. Truong Ha Phuong, Deputy Director of Institute III, said that it is expected that in the near future, it will coordinate to stocking in this area with seed sources. artificial.

And Mr. Vo Khac En, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Fisheries Department, assessed that with the successful production of white-breasted sea cucumber, it will help diversify aquatic breeds, reduce the pressure of natural exploitation, especially serving. strategic direction for fisheries development in the coming time.

However, Mr. En also wondered that the white-breasted sea cucumber is often distributed at a depth of tens of meters, so the stocking in cages at low depths, is it really effective?

In this regard, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy explained: In the past, white-breasted sea cucumber distributed a lot in shallow areas. However, due to the rarity and overexploitation, sea cucumber has more and more depth distribution. Therefore, raising white-breasted sea cucumber in the cage is very positive, as well as helping to improve the environment very well.

White-breasted sea cucumber farming in cages in Van Ninh. Photo: MH.

Mr. Le Thanh Nhan, Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company, said that the company currently has a sea cucumber processing factory with high standards of Japan and the US, not just dry processing. for sale of raw materials. Although about 90% of products on the world market are sold dry, the company will produce products that consumers can take home and slice and eat immediately.

According to Nhan, in recent times, the company has boosted the purchase of sandy sea cucumber in Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. The company asserts with sea cucumber farmers is enough to spend the product. Because in the company’s strategy is to spend 90% of products for export and 10% for domestic service.

Currently the domestic market is not used to using sea cucumber. In particular, the company only uses farmed sea cucumbers, not processed natural sea cucumbers. However, the company’s products have been exported to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan and will soon expand markets in the US, China …

Assoc. TS. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director of Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that over the past time, Australia has supported Vietnam a lot in the field of agriculture, including fisheries. Through cooperation, the fisheries sector has captured many new science and technology, as well as capacity building and research.

As for sea cucumbers, our country previously produced sand sea cucumbers by traditional methods such as heat stimulation, so they could not be proactive by technology methods to stimulate reproduction by hormones with high confidence rates.

Mr. Ninh believes that with this technology, other rare and precious sea cucumbers will be successfully produced in the near future. At the same time, express your delight that this technology has linked the business. Projects associated with businesses will have great potential for product development.