Compared to 2023, this year, flood water in An Phu district (An Giang province) - the place that receives the first amount of water from the upper Mekong River flowing into Vietnam - has been erratic and at low levels. According to many "veterans" who make a living by fishing during the flood season, this year the flood came late, the water was low, so the aquatic resources decreased sharply, directly affecting the lives of the people.
On the afternoon of October 31, while floating on a boat in the fields of Vinh Hau commune harvesting fish, Mr. Nguyen Van Nuoc (An Phu district) told us that a few months before the flood, people had prepared fishing gear to catch products, waiting for the flood to rise quickly with the hope of having more income for their families, but in reality it was not like that.
"My name was given by my father, which shows that in the past, about 20 years ago, there was a lot of water here, the flood flooded the fields and flooded the roads, and it was normal to catch a few dozen kilos of fish every day. Now the flood is low, there are few fish, even fewer than at the beginning of the season. These past few days, I have only been able to catch (harvest) 2-3 kilos/day. On top of that, the price is cheap, selling for less than a hundred thousand dong," said Mr. Nuoc.
This farmer added that at this time, the most valuable species is loach with a selling price of about 150,000 VND/kg, while other types of fish such as fish of the genus Thieu, fish of the genus Chot, fish of the genus Vinh, etc. are all very cheap. Therefore, farmers who cast nets in the fields and catch loach are very happy.
"But loach fish are coming in very little now. Yesterday I caught 700 grams, but today I have less than 400 grams. Starting from the 9th lunar month, water from the fields gradually flows into the river, signaling the end of the flood season, but up to now we have not caught much fish," Mr. Nuoc lamented.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Gam - who has been fishing for over 30 years - also said: "4 traps can only hold 3kg of linh fish, which is not enough to cover the cost of 1 liter of gasoline to run the boat, it's very sad."
Mr. Nguyen Van Ky - one of 500 households without land for production in Vinh Hoi Dong commune - explained: "I know that the profession is getting more and more difficult, but there is no other choice. No land to cultivate, no longer young enough to work in industrial zones..." Like many veterans in the profession, Mr. Ky knows that this is an investment with many potential risks of loss, but still has to gamble with the water as a "last resort".
"Back then, when the flood came, there were a lot of fish. One season of catching linh fish could bring in dozens of taels of gold," Mr. Tran Van Dung, Vinh Xuong commune (Tan Chau, An Giang) recalled the golden age.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Phu district assessed that this year's water level is basically 30cm lower than many years, the flood peak is at alert level 1.
“Like many localities in the upstream area, most of the livelihoods of people in An Phu district depend on the flood season, the water is getting less and less so people are forced to adapt. We are also fortunate to have the province and the Central Government invest in the Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Project (WB9) in 3 communes on the east bank of the Hau River. The project aims to train people in livelihoods, provide effective models, thereby equipping them with basic knowledge, understanding and ideas for economic development,” Mr. Phung The Vinh - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Phu district - informed.
