From the policy of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and the Master Plan to restore Nha Trang Bay to 2030 issued by the Provincial People’s Committee in November 2022, in recent times, the entire provincial political system, people, experts, Science has accompanied specific actions to join hands to restore the Nha Trang Bay ecosystem in a sustainable way.
The marine ecosystem is recovering
In the last days of March, reporters and representatives of the Management Board of Nha Trang Bay, lecturers and students of the Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology participated in the release of shrimp and crab seeds to regenerate resources. fisheries and cleaning the beach in the strictly protected area of Hon Mun (Nha Trang Bay). From Nha Trang tourist wharf, we saw signs advising tourists not to use or bring single-use plastic products, non-biodegradable plastic bags, or plastic bottled drinking water under 1.5 liters. through the dock. This is an effective method that has been applied by the Nha Trang Bay Management Board recently to reduce plastic waste, contributing to protecting the environment of Nha Trang Bay.
| Scientists survey and study coral in Nha Trang Bay. Photo: DANG VAN LONG |
Gliding on the clear blue sea, the boat took us to the Dam Bay mangrove forest area. Here, young mangrove trees planted in the mud more than a year ago have grown to form green patches. Before 2022, Dam Bay will have about 3 hectares of mangrove forest; Thanks to afforestation programs, up to now it has grown to 8 hectares. At Hon Mun, through the clear blue water, from the boat, we can also easily see schools of fish and the beautiful marine ecosystem. The beach area is zoned, floating buoys are placed, and bathing areas are limited so that tourism and swimming activities do not affect the coral reef. On Nha Trang Bay, there are currently areas where buoys are banned to carry out experiments on coral transplant projects on artificial substrates.
Master Nguyen Thi Nghiem Thuy (lecturer in Fisheries Management, Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology) assessed: “Compared to previous times, Nha Trang Bay has had stricter management, no longer Plastic waste is widespread. This time, we released 72,500 shrimp and crabs in the mangrove forest in Dam Bay, and organized the collection of plastic waste from the rocks along Hon Mun island to bring to the mainland for processing. This activity contributes to the regeneration of aquatic resources in Nha Trang Bay; At the same time, educate and raise students’ awareness about protecting the environment and marine ecosystem.”
According to survey and assessment results of the Institute of Oceanography and Nha Trang Bay Management Board in the first quarter of 2024, the average live coral coverage across the entire Nha Trang bay area is 12.81%. Regarding species composition, 12 hard coral varieties and 3-4 soft coral varieties were confirmed on the survey cross-section. Considering the changing trend, live coral cover at two regular monitoring stations on Hon Mun coral reef (northwest and southwest Hon Mun) is in the process of recovery. In particular, in the Hon Chong – Dang Tat sea area, there is a coral area of about 4.8 hectares, the average reef-forming coral coverage of the entire region is 32.4%. The coral here is growing very well.
According to Dr. Manuel Gonzalez Rivero – Head of the Coral Monitoring and Restoration Team, Australian Institute of Marine Science, through his survey trips and Vietnamese scientists in Nha Trang Bay in early April, signs were recorded. A positive sign is that young corals in Nha Trang Bay are growing, and the natural coral recovery process is taking place.
| A training and propaganda class to protect the Nha Trang Bay ecosystem at Bich Dam Residential Group (Vinh Nguyen Ward, Nha Trang City). |
Join hands in action
According to Mr. Dam Hai Van – Deputy Head of Nha Trang Bay Management Board, to facilitate the coral recovery process and implement the direction of the province and city, from June 27, 2022 to present, the Nha Trang Bay Management Board has temporarily Stop swimming, scuba diving, boats and glass-bottomed baskets in the waters of Hon Mun island and arrange a temporary diving site in the northeast area of Hon Rom with a limited number of guests; Relocating Lam Du lagoon of Doan Ket Cooperative out of Hon Mun strictly protected subdivision. In the first quarter of 2024, the Bay Management Board coordinated with Hon Mun Border Guard Station to prepare a working record on illegal fishing behavior for 2 fishing vessels operating in the strictly protected area of Hon Mun. People’s Committees of communes and wards have reviewed and compiled statistics on the current status of aquaculture cages on Nha Trang Bay; At the same time, strengthen propaganda, patrolling, and control, determined not to allow new aquaculture cages to arise outside the permitted farming area. In 2023, units, businesses, and people have re-released 12,000 aquatic breeds at Hon Mun, the marina; Newly planted 2.5 hectares of mangrove forest (mainly mangrove trees) in the area of Dam Bay, Tac River estuary, and alluvial ground along the Cai River.
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| Union members and youth of the city. Nha Trang grows mangroves at Dam Bay. |
Along with that, implementing the tasks in the Master Plan to restore Nha Trang Bay to 2030 of the Provincial People’s Committee, up to now, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has collected comments on the outline and estimated cost of implementation. The task “Controlling waste discharge sources into Nha Trang Bay” is submitted to the Provincial People’s Committee for approval. Institute of Oceanography and experts propose planning an international marine ecological area in Nha Trang Bay; Build appropriate management models and public-private cooperation mechanisms to preserve, restore and promote the values of Nha Trang Bay. Nha Trang Bay Management Board coordinated with the City Economic Department to review and develop a proposal for a grassroots scientific task on the topic “Creating a nursery to provide reef-building coral seeds to restore and regenerate the ecosystem.” Coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay” in 2025…
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| Young people pick up trash to protect the environment at Hon Mun. |
Mr. Nguyen Sy Khanh – Chairman of the City People’s Committee. Nha Trang said that currently, the city continues to direct specialized departments and divisions to focus on coordinating with departments and branches to carry out 16 tasks in the Master Plan to restore Nha Trang Bay until 2030. On February 2, the city approved the Plan of the Nha Trang Bay Management Board on coordinating propaganda and patrolling to protect the marine environment and coral reef ecosystem in the Hon Chong – Dang Tat sea area in 2024. In addition, In addition, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam signed a service contract between UNDP in Vietnam and the Institute of Oceanography to perform the task of “Collecting additional data, investigating and surveying to evaluate Evaluation and research on functional zoning in Nha Trang Bay”. City People’s Committee. Nha Trang has directed the Nha Trang Bay Management Board to monitor and coordinate with UNDP to carry out this task.
Speaking at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) training course at the Institute of Oceanography in early April, grandfather TRAN HOA NAM – Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee said: In recent years, the province has had many solutions to strengthen the management of marine protected areas, restore coral reef ecosystems and aquatic resources in marine areas under the province’s management; Sustainable development of local marine economic sectors. To develop a sustainable marine economy, preserve the ocean, restore coral reef ecosystems and aquatic resources, along with synchronously implementing tasks in the Master Plan to restore Nha Trang Bay until 2030 , the province determines research, basic investigation, and application of scientific and technological advances to provide a scientific basis for the ocean, identifying potentials for applying advanced technology, exploiting and using marine science. Sustainable use of resources and protection of the marine environment must be given top priority.
THAI THINH
