Climate change is not the only one to blame for coral death

Hon Mun conservation core area must not be allowed for diving

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien has recently had an inspection and working session with Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on the protection, conservation and development of aquatic resources, clarifying information related to dead corals, fishing situation, establishment and operation regulations of Khanh Hoa Fisheries Development Support Fund and actions against IUU fishing.

Regarding the cause of the death of coral reefs on Nha Trang Bay, in addition to objective factors due to natural disasters, Head of Nha Trang Bay Management Board Huynh Binh Thai said that there were factors such as climate change and other subjective factors accumulated over many years.

There is the fact that a number of locals living around the bordering area enter the conservation area to catch fish. In addition, there are two long-standing aquaculture areas that discharge waste and leftovers into the bay. This also has a significant impact on coral reefs.

Hon Mun in particular is a place visited by a lot of domestic and foreign tourists. This leads to a situation of foreigners harming the coral, but the local authorities find it difficult to handle appropriately. Fresh water from Cai and Quan Truong rivers flowing into Nha Trang Bay is also considered a cause of influence.

Meanwhile Mr. Nguyen Khac Bat, Director of the Reseearch Institute of Marine Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that diving activities were not allowed in the conservation core area. However, after conducting a survey this morning, this activity still took place at Hon Mun.

According to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, conservation implementation has documents with full legality, even including the Prime Minister's Directive. “The role of conservation is thus very important in the current period. If we let exploitation put more pressure on the environment, we will not have a sustainable marine economy and fishing industry.”

After conducting an inspection of Nha Trang Bay’s conservation areas, the Deputy Minister affirmed that awareness of local conservation is below qualification. “Although Khanh Hoa points out many causes of coral deaths, they are not entirely to blame. It would be great if the province has done good conservation by dividing the zones, but nothing can be seen here. No clear restricted area, protection zone, development zone, or buffer zone has been defined. Right in the restricted area, the core area of ​​Hon Mun, the province still allows infrastructure and diving activities to exist.”

Therefore, in order to effectively implement conservation, Khanh Hoa province must have a program with many different projects, defining the responsibilities of departments, businesses and fishermen, thereby implementing it according to the socialization spirit.

EC will likely conduct an IUU inspection in Khanh Hoa

Mr. Nguyen Trong Chanh, Director of Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of Fisheries, said that the province had been drastically implementing issues recommended by the European Commission (EC) based on the directives of the Directorate of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

Up to now Khanh Hoa has 676 ships of 15 m or more that have installed cruise monitoring equipment, and only 16 ships have not. The local authorities resolutely do not allow ships to sail without installing equipment. The control of ships entering and leaving the wharf is closely monitored. Strict penalties for ships with violations at sea are executed.

The province has approved the plan to welcome the EC working delegation when entering Khanh Hoa to inspect the implementation of the prior recommendations. On October the EC delegation will visit Vietnam and Khanh Hoa has a high chance to be chosen because the province possesses a large fishery industry, currently exporting tuna to Europe.

Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the General Department of Fisheries, therefore suggested Khanh Hoa province have clear directives for fishing ports as well as the Sub-Department of Fisheries to review all records, strengthen control, especially in the management of fishing vessels, at the same time develop a detailed scenario to welcome and coordinate with the EC delegation.