Every day after work, Duong Anh Tuan (from Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City) hauls bags of fish food to his floating house along the riverbank.

As soon as the sound of Tuan’s footsteps echoes on the wooden floor, a school of river catfish gathers beneath the surface, their tails splashing in anticipation of their meal.

Scooping a large basin of food, Tuan grabs handfuls and tosses them into the water. A frenzy of black fish rises to the surface, mouths open wide, competing for the food as water sprays everywhere.

Sitting down by the water, Tuan reaches out with a handful of food. A few fish swim up to feed directly from his hand. Stroking their sleek heads and backs, the Can Tho native treats the river catfish like beloved pets.

Tuan recalls that years ago, his family built a small floating house and kept a few fish in the river for relaxation. As the scent of food drifted into the river, wild fish began gathering around, nibbling on the leftovers.

"Seeing how the river fish became so accustomed to people, I had the idea of feeding them regularly just to watch them. By 2023, more and more fish came to the area. Now, there are thousands of them. So, I decided to take care of them. Seeing the fish gather around brings me joy," Tuan said.

To protect the growing school of fish, Tuan expanded the water surface area by several hundred square meters. He installed nets and used water hyacinths as natural barriers around the floating house. Additionally, he set up cameras to monitor the area, preventing others from electrofishing the fish.

The fish are fed a mix of commercial feed along with leftover rice and vegetable scraps. What started as a few dozen catfish has grown into thousands, now weighing an estimated 3-4 tons.

The school includes various species, such as river catfish, carp, and other local fish, with the catfish being the most numerous, weighing between 2-3 kg each.

Tuan spends millions of VND each month on food for the natural fish, but he continues to care for them with enthusiasm.

"I’ve never caught a single fish to eat, and I’ve never let them go hungry for even a day," he said, hoping that more people will share his passion and join him in protecting natural fish.

"I’ll keep feeding as many fish as come. Nowadays, people are fishing destructively, and natural fish populations are dwindling. I hope my actions will inspire others. More efforts like this will help preserve our fisheries," Tuan expressed.

Mai Van Nghiep, Tuan’s father-in-law, fully supports his son-in-law’s efforts to care for the fish. He also helps look after the fish and guard against people trying to catch them.

"When my son-in-law is at work, my wife and I feed the fish. We also keep an eye out to ensure no one comes to fish or steal from the school. We want the fish to have a safe place to live and thrive," Nghiep said.

Hoai Thanh