Troubled waters

      Danang is blessed with stunning coral reef but the city has failed to capitalise on its tourism potential and has yet to find a way to effectively protect it.
Off the coast of Danang coral is in rapid deterioration. Over-exploitation of fish, pollution and the accumulation of sediment are all factors.
According to Nha Trang’s Oceanography Institute, only 10 per cent of the coral reef is in good condition.
Two years ago the Coral Reef Dive Centre from Nha Trang surveyed the area around Son Tra peninsula in Danang and duly claimed the area had more potential for diving services than Hon Mun in Nha Trang. The area stretching from Hon Chao to south of Hai Van around the Son Tra peninsula is home to 191 coral species as well as three species of sea-grass, 72 species of seaweed, 53 species of mollusks, 23 kinds of echinodermata (starfish, urchins, etc) and 221 plankton species.
Since 2007 the area has been a strictly protected zone and all activities that can destroy coral reefs, vegetational cover and the underwater ecosystem — using explosives or toxic chemicals to catch fish, mining, construction, discharging of waste water — are banned.
Meanwhile, scientific research, tourism, cultural and commercial activities that did not affect the aquatic resources and environment were to be allowed. The general parameters were set but since then the condition of the coral reef has continued to deteriorate.
The Nha Trang Oceanography Institute claims 80 per cent of the coral reef is in bad condition. Over the last two years the illegal exploitation of coral here remains uncontrolled. This has had a major impact on the living environment of numerous species of marine life and harmed the capacity of preventing erosion in the area. The exploitation of sea products and anchoring boats and ships in the coral-rich areas are commonly practiced.
Coastal construction projects are daily dumping earth, rock and waste water into area, polluting and destroying the ecosystem. Meanwhile, sustainable tourism has yet to be developed and diving tours are also believed to be destroying the coral.
There is a lack of accountability. No single unit or department is in charge of managing and protecting the valuable sea area. The city’s Department of Aquaculture was assigned to protect the area, but this unit has to manage numerous sectors and lacks the manpower and expertise to protect the offshore area around Son Tra.
According to the department at least five hectares of coral around the Son Tra peninsula is in danger of dying. Obviously urgent action is required. In May the Danang’s People’s Committee requested that the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development design a project to protect the coral reef and eco-system around the Son Tra peninsula.
The department has since been coordinating with the Son Tra district’s People’s Committee to devise methods and measures to protect the coral and minimise unnecessary exploitation of marine life. Of course, a strict ban is already in place. So how can the area be monitored and policed?
A campaign will be launched to boost the awareness of the public and tourists of the need to protect these precious natural resources. Two patrol groups — including fishing boats – will protect the restricted areas while exploiting sea products outside these areas.
From 2010 onwards, it is hoped that the inshore eco-system will start to show signs of recovery, preserving the ecological diversification, while a sustainable sea tourism industry will be more developed.