Sturgeon farmers move ponds to clear way for river shipping
Source: Xinhua |
January 29, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
STURGEON farmers in the Three Gorges area of China's Yangtze River are dismantling their fish tanks to keep shipping channels safe and clear.
More than 180 households in Zigui County, in the upper reaches of the Three Gorges Dam, have dismantled 75 percent of their 7,509 fish-raising tanks after being offered compensation by the county government.
They are selling or relocating fish stocks, including profitable sturgeons, according to the agricultural bureau of Zigui.
The county government is designing an aquaculture park on land to accommodate sturgeon entering spawning age.
The park is expected to offer job opportunities to fish raisers who had to quit the business in line with government orders to ensure smooth navigation and reduce water pollution.
Prices for a certain type of caviar made of sturgeon spawn hit up to 14,000 yuan (US$2,050) per kilogram on the domestic market, about 200 times the price of sturgeon meat, said Liu Wenlong, one of the largest fish raisers in the county.
The first stage of the park, to be set up in Maoping Town adjacent to the dam project, will mainly involve pools covering 2 hectares to raise about 400 tons of sturgeon owned by Liu, said Tan Fuqi, vice director of the bureau.
Liu himself would offer most of the estimated 3 million yuan investment with bank loans assisted by the government, and construction was expected to start in six months, said Tan.
The second stage of the park would see the development of caviar production aimed at foreign markets.
Further expansion of the project is yet to be decided.
Zigui government called upon fish raisers to cooperate with the demolition campaign last May, promising 3,000 yuan in compensation for each tank dismantled before the deadline of last October.
However, fish farmers could not deal with large amounts of fish stocks within the time limit and the government had to extend the deadline. One farmer said he would get 90,000 yuan compensation.
More than 180 households in Zigui County, in the upper reaches of the Three Gorges Dam, have dismantled 75 percent of their 7,509 fish-raising tanks after being offered compensation by the county government.
They are selling or relocating fish stocks, including profitable sturgeons, according to the agricultural bureau of Zigui.
The county government is designing an aquaculture park on land to accommodate sturgeon entering spawning age.
The park is expected to offer job opportunities to fish raisers who had to quit the business in line with government orders to ensure smooth navigation and reduce water pollution.
Prices for a certain type of caviar made of sturgeon spawn hit up to 14,000 yuan (US$2,050) per kilogram on the domestic market, about 200 times the price of sturgeon meat, said Liu Wenlong, one of the largest fish raisers in the county.
The first stage of the park, to be set up in Maoping Town adjacent to the dam project, will mainly involve pools covering 2 hectares to raise about 400 tons of sturgeon owned by Liu, said Tan Fuqi, vice director of the bureau.
Liu himself would offer most of the estimated 3 million yuan investment with bank loans assisted by the government, and construction was expected to start in six months, said Tan.
The second stage of the park would see the development of caviar production aimed at foreign markets.
Further expansion of the project is yet to be decided.
Zigui government called upon fish raisers to cooperate with the demolition campaign last May, promising 3,000 yuan in compensation for each tank dismantled before the deadline of last October.
However, fish farmers could not deal with large amounts of fish stocks within the time limit and the government had to extend the deadline. One farmer said he would get 90,000 yuan compensation.
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