Ocean oyster farming provides high revenue for residents in Quang Tri

Residents of Bac Gianh ward in Quang Tri province, Vietnam, have established a successful ocean oyster farming industry on the Gianh River estuary.

The community uses bamboo rafts to cultivate oysters in brackish water where freshwater from upstream meets saltwater from the tides. This specific environment allows the oysters to grow effectively. The shift to ocean oysters followed a failed attempt in 2020 by local farmer Nguyen Quoc Trong to raise milk oysters.

His milk oyster crop died during a period of heavy rain because the water salinity dropped too low. In late 2022, he switched to ocean oysters after learning that these varieties can survive in freshwater for 7 to 10 days. This resilience allows the crop to endure floods that previously destroyed his livestock. Farmers anchor the rafts over 100 meters from the shore in water deeper than 1.5 meters.

Each raft covers over 1,700 square meters and uses bamboo frames and plastic barrels for buoyancy. Workers harvest the oysters after 10 to 12 months of growth. The cooperative and local households process the oysters by removing the shells and cleaning the meat, which they then package with QR codes for traceability. The industry currently produces about 900 tons of oysters annually, generating an estimated 25 billion VND in revenue.

Tran Ngoc Huong, the Vice Chairman of Bac Gianh ward, plans to develop the oysters into a high-quality regional brand. The local government intends to link the farming practice with environmental protection to maintain water quality and ensure sustainable growth.