Ba Ria – Vung Tau (VNA) - Oyster farming hasreally become a major source of income for farmers living in Long Son islandcommune in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Ironically, theyhave developed this aquaculture industry accidentally while rearing otherfisheries sources.

It is interesting to discover that Long Son farmers expandedoyster cultivation after realizing that saltwater clams would cling to thecages of farmed fish and shrimp. This inspired the idea of raising andprocessing oysters to be sold as a high source of nutrition.

Thanks to its proximity to sea, Long Son waters havefavourable natural conditions for oyster farming, with year-round warmtemperatures and acceptable levels of salt.

According to Ms. Le Kim Thoa, Director of the Sea and IslandResearch Centre under the Vietnam National Universityin Ho Chi Minh City,Long Son island commune has a large mangrove forest area which is home tovarious ephemeral organisms serving as natural food for oysters.

Long Son farmers raise oysters in cages and on pales. Theaquaculture does not require large investments but it generates high income forlocals.

No feed is needed to raise oysters because they grow byabsorbing various ephemeral organisms. Meanwhile the oyster breeding does noharm to the environment.

However, local oyster breeders have faced many poor yieldsafter river water is affected by hazardous waste from surrounding factories.

“We can harvest oysters after one year of aquaculture andhave another crop in the following months,” said Mr. Nguyen Le Hung, a farmerfrom Long Son commune.

“Difficulties emerge from raising oysters on pales becausewe only harvest them when the tide ebbs. These days, we have earned some lowyields since the water is polluted,” Hung added.

Long Son oysters weigh up to 300grams, much larger thanthose adrift at sea. Therefore, it can be hard to lift them without support.

The third lunar month is the best time to enjoy dishescreated from fresh oysters, and so the consumption of Long Son oysters peaks atthis time of year.

A few farmers have tried combining oyster raising with otheraquaculture and fish rearing.

More than 700 households in Long Son commune form a combinedfarming area of 750 ha, yielding around 6,000 tonnes of seafood. They can earnsome 500 USD a year from each oyster cage, bringing their annual income to5,000 USD with 10 oyster cages.

Living standards of local residents have been much improvedthanks to stable income generated from the oyster aquaculture.

Director Le Kim Thoa said economic benefits generated fromoyster breeding helps improve living standards of local people while thecommune’s infrastructure has been improved.

Oysters raised in Long Son commune are sold at farms andoften processed into dishes to serve tourists at some floating houses on theRang river.

We can enjoy fresh oysters with some slice of lemon andsauces including red pepper.

Mr. Vo Van Mui, Chairman of the Long Son communal People’sCommittee, said the Long Son oyster brand is quite popular in Ba Ria - Vung Tauprovince and Ho Chi Minh City.The locality plans to protect and promote the brand.

It is worrying, however, that Long Son farmers only payattention to making profits from the aquaculture and do not realise thesignificant role of oyster in maintaining the bio-diversity of the marineecosystem.

Scientists suggested it is advisable to apply advancedtechnologies in practising oyster aquaculture while looking towards thesustainable development of oyster farming./.