The La Ngà River in Đồng Nai Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Sỹ Tuyên

ĐỒNG NAI — The southern province of Đồng Nai will impose time-limited fishing bans in three designated zones to protect and develop aquatic resources.

Under a newly issued decision by the province People’s Committee valid through 2030, the first zone is located along the upper Đồng Nai River in Đak Lua, Nam Cát Tiên and Tà Lài communes. It covers about 1,625ha of water surface.

Fishing in this zone will be banned from June to September each year. The ban aims to protect endangered and rare species such as the giant mottled eel, grey seahorse and giant devil catfish, while safeguarding the breeding season of economically valuable fish.

The second zone includes the Trị An Reservoir area, sections of the La Ngà River and the Đồng Nai River flowing into the reservoir in La Ngà and Định Quán communes, part of Thanh Sơn Commune, and vegetated near-shore areas. Fishing will also be prohibited there from June to September each year.

The zone includes 515ha of near-shore waters and 139ha at river mouths. It contains a high density of natural spawning grounds and plays an important role in replenishing freshwater fish stocks.

The third zone covers mangrove areas from the Cát Lái Ferry to the confluence of the Lòng Tàu River and the Soài Rạp River, continuing through the Đồng Tranh River area to the Thị Vải River area, bordering HCM City.

It has about 3,687ha of water surface and fishing will be banned from January to March each year.

The ban aims to protect endangered and rare species such as spadefish and Chinese pangasid catfish, as well as spawning grounds and nursery areas for economically valuable species.

According to surveys by provincial authorities, Đồng Nai has identified 240 aquatic species and species groups in its main water bodies, including 215 fish species, 16 crustaceans, eight molluscs and one sipunculan species.

Of these species, 17 are classified as endangered and rare, eight are alien species, 106 have economic value, 22 are ornamental and 40 are farmed species.

Survey results show that fish dominate catches, accounting for 59–88 per cent of total output in most water bodies.

The main breeding season for aquatic species in the upper Đồng Nai River, the La Ngà River and Trị An Reservoir runs from June to August each year, with juveniles appearing from July to September.

In mangrove areas, spawning occurs from October to December, while juvenile fish appear from November to February.

The province’s main fishing grounds include Trị An Reservoir, the Đồng Nai River and the Long Thành–Nhơn Trạch mangrove area. — VNS