Officials and youths in Ho Chi Minh City have recently released more than 200,000 fish, including carps, tilapia, catfish and anabas, into the Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe and Tau Hu – Ben Nghe canals to regenerate fisheries.

Addressing the fish release event on May 29, Hua Ngoc Thuan, Deputy Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, called on local residents to take part in activities to rejuvenate the fisheries and protect water sources and the environment of the city.

But there is concern that people are working together to get rid of the newly-released fish, as hundreds of people are regularly spotted catching fish along the canals with fishing rods and even nets as “a form of entertainment”.

Therefore, many residents have called on a restriction or a ban on fishing at the revived canals to raise public awareness about environmental protection.