Fish fry are released into the Dầu Tiếng Reservoir in Tây Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tân

TÂY NINH — The southern province of Tây Ninh last week began releasing more than 515,000 fry of various fish species into the Dầu Tiếng Reservoir to regenerate fishery resources during the ongoing rainy season.

The fish include bighead carp, grass carp, common carp, tra fish, bronze featherback and Asian red-tailed catfish, and other fish species.

The release by the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was done over three days until Saturday.

The 27-sq.km reservoir, located in parts of the three provinces of Bình Dương, Bình Phước and Tây Ninh, provides water for agricultural and industrial production and household use in the provinces and HCM City.

Before the release, the Tây Ninh People’s Committee decided to ban all fish catching in the reservoir between October 15 and November 15 to protect newly-released fish fry.

The department has asked localities, in co-operation with the Dầu Tiếng-Phước Hòa Irrigation Exploitation Company, to inform local fishermen about the decision.

The department also asked agencies to tighten inspections and penalise anyone illegally catching fish in the reservoir during the period.

Nguyễn Văn Mấy, deputy director of the department, said the release of fish fry into the reservoir has been regularly implemented since 2005 and has helped regenerate fish resources for locals to catch.  

The release of fish fry has contributed to enhancing the awareness of locals about protecting fishery resources in the reservoir.

The department releases about 800,000-1 million fry of various fish species into the reservoir each year.

The reservoir has about 54 fish species, with many high-value fish species like bronze featherback, Asian red-tailed catfish, marble goby and helicopter catfish, according to the Research Institute for Aquaculture No 2 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. — VNS