Sturgeon farming thrives in Cao Bo

Making the most of year-round cold mountain streams at the foot of the Tay Con Linh Range, Cao Bo Commune has developed sturgeon farming into a sustainable livelihood, helping improve incomes and transform production practices among the local Dao ethnic community.

Dang Van Thang's sturgeon farm in Tham Ve Village.

Dang Van Thang, one of the pioneers of sturgeon farming in the commune, launched his business in 2020 after studying cold-water aquaculture techniques in northern provinces where the industry is well established. Although his first batches suffered heavy losses due to limited experience and inadequate water management, he persevered, gradually refining his farming methods. Today, his farm raises around 4,000 market-size sturgeon and produces dozens of tonnes of fish annually, generating revenue worth billions of Vietnamese dong.

Inspired by the success of early adopters, more households in Thac Tang and Tat Khao villages have invested in sturgeon farming. Ban Van Thien, another local farmer, said sturgeon command high market value but require consistently cold, clean water and careful environmental management. Thanks to the pristine mountain water preserved by surrounding forests, his farm produces two harvests a year, with an annual output of more than 14 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Ly Van Guyen has successfully shifted from traditional crop cultivation to sturgeon farming, creating a more stable source of income for his family. After approximately 13 months of rearing, each fish reaches a market weight of between 2 and 2.5 kilograms and is sold for VND200,000–220,000 per kilogram.

From only a handful of pioneering households, sturgeon farming has expanded to nearly 20 farms across Cao Bo Commune, covering almost 5,000 square metres of water surface. The commune now produces more than 50 tonnes of commercial sturgeon each year, generating annual revenue of over VND7 billion. Beyond its economic benefits, the industry has encouraged farmers to adopt modern farming techniques while raising awareness of environmental protection and sustainable water resource management.

According to Nguyen Van Duong, Chairman of the Cao Bo Commune People's Committee, the locality will continue expanding the model in a sustainable manner by combining sturgeon farming with forest and watershed conservation as well as eco-tourism development. The initiative is expected to make better use of the area's natural advantages while creating long-term, sustainable livelihoods for local communities at the foot of the Tay Con Linh Mountains.

Thanh Thuy