Farmed fish prices rise as operators struggle to stay afloat

Farmed fish prices rise as operators struggle to stay afloat

The cost of tilapia farmed on the Mekong River in Vientiane has risen now that many farmers have packed in their operations because of the rising river level and muddy water.

After weeks of heavy rainfall the river has become fast-flowing and turbid, making fish farming problematic.

A few months ago, farmed fish sold for about 16,000 kip per kg but this month was selling for up to 19,000 kip, Vientiane fish farmer Mr Nhay told Vientiane Times yesterday.

Traders are continuing to bring fish to sell at markets for about 20,000-22,000 kip per kg so they can make a profit.

To cut costs and reduce the number of fish deaths, during the rainy season Mr Nhay is keeping fewer fish in his netted cages.

“Normally, I keep 3,000-4,000 fish in one net but this rainy season I am keeping only 2,500 fish in each net,” he said.

He is still raising fish because he must have something to sell to sustain his family and to repay the interest on his bank loan.

Some of the fingerlings he bought have died but most are still alive, he added. However, he remains fearful of the impact of flooding caused by storms.

Many fish farms along the Nam Ngum and Mekong rivers stopped operations several months ago because they could not compete with illegally operated foreign-run farms in Vientiane, said the President of the Lao Fish Farm Association, Mr Kenchan Thailavan.

This problem has been eating into the profits of Lao fish farmers for several years but the government has not been able to put a stop to it, he added.

Xaythany district authorities in Vientiane have said that illegally-operated fish farms run by the Chinese on the Nam Ngum River can legalise their operations if they first sell all their fish stocks.

The operators were given from March 15 to June 15 to complete the process but they continue to operate along the same lines as previously.

There are nine fish farms that were operating illegally before Government Resolution No. 3 on foreigners working and trading in Laos came into effect in March 2011. The Resolution states that these farms must sell their fish and use only 30 nets if they want to stay in business.

Fish farms that have set up illegally since the Resolution came into effect are required to sell all their stocks and re-register.

Xaythany district, in cooperation with the sectors responsible, is encouraging unauthorised fish farms to sign an agreement that they will comply with this order.

Thirteen fish farms were found to be operating in the district, but only four were able to produce the requisite legal documents.

vientiane times