Vietnamese authorities have released more than 18 metric tons of fish back to the river in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to regenerate aquatic resources.

The activity was carried out by Vietnam’s Directorate of Fisheries and the An Giang People’s Committee along Vam Nao River in Phu Tan District on Saturday.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development previously encouraged nearly 500 organizations and individuals to contribute financial support and a large number of fish worth over VND1 billion (US$43,100).

The Directorate of Fisheries also provided 16,000 fish of several species.

More than 18 metric tons of fish was set free in this year’s aquatic resource regeneration effort.

Vietnam released about 88 million fish, many of which were of rare species boasting high economic value, into local rivers in 2019, Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet, deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries, stated, adding that An Giang had set free 14.7 million fish last year.

"Vam Nao River in An Giang Province is one of the six waterways that were selected by the Directorate of Fisheries to organize aquatic resource regeneration activities from 2017 to 2020,” Nguyet elaborated.

Following a ceremony, 12 boats were tasked with releasing the fish to different locations along the Vam Nao River.

Eight of the boats were dispatched by authorities, while the other four belonged to a group of local Buddhist followers.

From 2012 to 2019, An Giang released over 118 metric tons of fish of various species equivalent to VND6 billion ($258,900).

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!