Khanh Hoa offers solutions to restore coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay

Nha Trang Bay's environment is in decline

Nha Trang Bay is one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world, containing global and national values. This is also the first marine protected area in Vietnam. It is also one of 16 national marine protected areas that must be effectively preserved.

But disappointingly, over time, the environment of Nha Trang Bay in general, and the coral reefs in Hon Mun sea area, in particular, has shown signs of deterioration due to many objective and subjective reasons.

There was an inspection and working session with the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on the protection, conservation, and development of aquatic resources, clarifying information related to dead corals... on August 12. Deputy Minister of MARD Phung Duc Tien said that local conservation has not yet been aware. Although the province points to many causes of coral reef deaths such as climate change, exploitation, growing environment, and water flow. These causes can be avoided if the province has done good conservation and has a clear division. But there is no subdivision and no strict zone, protection zone, development zone, or buffer zone. Even in the strict area is the core area of Hon Mun, the locality is still doing infrastructure for diving.

Consequently, to effectively implement the conservation, according to the Deputy Minister, there must be a program in the province, including many different projects, defining the responsibilities of departments, businesses, and fishermen. After that, it is necessary to implement the program with the spirit of socialization, calling for businesses to invest. 

Also according to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, tourism is a very important smokeless economic sector of the sea. However, it does not mean that the tourist area should overlap with conservation, exploitation and construction also overlap with conservation and hunting fishermen also go there to catch. Therefore, Khanh Hoa province needs to clear division. However, it does not mean that the tourist area, exploitation, construction, and fishing area for fishermen should also overlap with conservation. Therefore, Khanh Hoa province needs to have a clear division. In particular, the role of conservation and coral ecosystems is very important and will collect a lot of money in the future. The province cannot let the recession occur by many causes and should soon give specific programs, and MARD is always ready to support. 

16 tasks and solutions to restore Nha Trang Bay

Given the importance and urgency of preserving and restoring coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay in general and Hon Mun sea area in particular, Mr. Dinh Van Thieu, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has signed the decision to issue a master plan to restore Nha Trang Bay to 2030. ơ

According to this plan, Khanh Hoa province offers 16 specific tasks and solutions. There are many notable solutions such as: Raising awareness, creating behavior change in individuals and communities, businesses, tourists, and other relevant social sectors to behave environmentally friendly manner in Nha Trang Bay; suspending scuba diving tourism at degraded coral reef sites in Hon Mun and other locations (if any); strictly prohibit activities that infringe on habitats and coral reefs in Hon Mun sea area and other core areas in Nha Trang bay according to the provisions of law; temporarily keep the same area and strengthen control over existing aquaculture activities in Nha Trang bay; move the net operation out of the strictly protected area in the south of Hon Mun; strengthen patrol and strictly protect Hon Mun conservation area, promptly detect and handle violations of the law and destroy the environment in Nha Trang Bay area.

For coral restoration in Hon Mun and Nha Trang Bay areas, the province will clean up the environment in Hon Mun sea area, remove plastic waste in coral reefs, and arrange the broken branches of the coral so that the coral has a chance to repair itself. The province will also survey and make a rapid assessment of coral reefs at scuba diving tourist sites around Hon Mun and other core areas in the bay to determine the extent and causes of degradation. This also includes the implementation of appropriate technical solutions for the restoration of coral reefs in Hon Mun sea and Nha Trang bay…

To do this, the province assigned the People's Committee of Nha Trang City and the Management Board of Nha Trang Bay to lead. And Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Science and Technology will invite Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center (Nha Trang Branch), Institute of Oceanography to coordinate and implement coral reef restoration. The Department will also invite the Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology under Nha Trang University to experiment with coral restoration using "Biorock" technology in Nha Trang Bay.

In this plan, the province will also survey and zone the marine protected area of Nha Trang Bay and support the restoration and conservation of sea turtles in the marine protected area of Nha Trang Bay and surrounding waters. Along with that, creating sustainable livelihoods for the community associated with coral reef conservation in Hon Mun area and Nha Trang Bay by strengthening the organization and training to improve management capacity. Protect and rationally exploit the coral reef ecosystem for community organizations in Nha Trang Bay; develop ways of assigning responsibility for management, monitoring, and protection of coral reefs for the community at Bich Dam residential group (Vinh Nguyen ward) in Nha Trang Bay. Building a mutually supportive link between community organizations inside and outside the Bich Dam residential group in co-management and protection of coral reefs in Nha Trang bay. Mobilize the contributions of the community and stakeholders to contribute to creating a sustainable financial source for the management and protection of coral reefs of Bich Dam residential group. Piloting a model of developing green, clean, and civilized island community eco-tourism, contributing to gradually changing jobs for fishermen in Bich Dam residential group.

In addition, there are other solutions such as reviewing, zoning, and protecting marine areas in Hon Mun, Hon Chong - Vinh Hoa, and Vinh Hai with recovering corals, breeding grounds, and spawning grounds for aquatic products. Capacity building for the Nha Trang Bay Management Board and the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Nha Trang Bay. Control discharge sources into Nha Trang Bay; perfecting the system of mechanisms and policies on state management of activities in Nha Trang Bay. Manage and reduce plastic waste in marine protected areas towards the development of the blue sea economy in Nha Trang Bay. Establishing and testing the corporate governance method of the international marine ecological area in Nha Trang Bay. Implement inter-sectoral coordination in Nha Trang Bay management and create sustainable financial sources for Nha Trang Bay management.