Enterprises step in the conservation of Phu Quoc marine ecosystem

Within the framework of the Coastal Ecosystem Protection Project in the Mekong Delta (MDC), WWF Vietnam has organized a consultation with businesses on conservation efforts in the Phu Quoc marine area, Kien Giang province, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Management Board of Kien Giang Marine Protected Area (MPA).

The project's objective is to enhance the effectiveness of the conservation mission of Kieng Giang MPA and its associated units by encouraging enterprise participation, as stated by Mr. Ngo Minh Toan, Director of the Kien Giang MPA.

The Management Board of Kien Giang MPA and the MDC project also acknowledge the demands and proposals of enterprises to discuss ideas, and cooperative mechanisms, and support local management units in conducting measures to preserve the significant marine ecology of Phu Quoc.

Kien Giang MPA representatives also suggested several issues that require collaboration with relevant parties to be addressed, as they are implemented in vulnerable coastal areas of the Mekong Delta, particularly in Phu Quoc MPA and three small island clusters in the Southwest seas (Hai Tac, Ba Lua, Nam Du). This pertains to the long-term strategy. Subsequently, contributes to the objectives of the MDC project by enhancing the resilience of the littoral ecosystem of the Mekong Delta region and mitigating risks that endanger marine biodiversity and seafood resources.

Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and is home to a diverse ecosystem that encompasses thousands of hectares of seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change pose hazards to these invaluable ecosystems. Seagrass beds, which are also referred to as the "nurseries of the sea," are among the most effective ecosystems in the world. They serve as a dependable carbon sink and provide habitat and sustenance for a variety of marine animals.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Si Tuan, the former Director of the Institute of Oceanography, asserted that fishing practices, including bottom trawling and the use of drag nets, have a significant impact on seagrass habitats, in addition to environmental pollution and climate change. The use of destructive fishing gear, indiscriminate anchoring of boats, and irresponsible tourism practices are all contributing to the similar fate of coral reefs, another critical marine habitat. Coral bleaching persists in Phu Quoc.

Furthermore, Phu Quoc boasts an extraordinary economic development rate, with a total registered capital exceeding 142 trillion VND and more than 4,400 businesses that capitalize on marine resources, either directly or indirectly. Consequently, the businesses of Phu Quoc face a substantial challenge in the face of the loss of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

The meeting served as an occasion to introduce the MDC project's activities to local businesses, thereby advocating for their integration into their sustainable development strategies and programs. The meeting was attended by 28 businesses that operate in Phu Quoc. They actively shared their opinions, perspectives, and proposals on marine conservation, including the design of tourism activities that do not harm coral reefs and the zoning of areas. They also shared environmental criteria that businesses can use to adjust their operations to contribute to the protection of the marine ecosystem.

The Kien Giang MPA Management Board is expected to provide additional guidance and cooperation to the participating businesses, who have expressed their desire to contribute to marine conservation in Phu Quoc. The MDC project will persist in its efforts to facilitate communication between the Management Board and businesses, as well as to offer technical assistance to businesses in the development of environmentally responsible initiatives that are tailored to the unique business models and contributions of each business.

Furthermore, the initiative endeavors to establish a responsible business community in Phu Quoc, thereby fostering public-private partnerships in the conservation of marine biodiversity in Kien Giang province and Vietnam as a whole.

In collaboration with Vietnamese government agencies, local authorities, businesses, management boards, development partners, and fishing communities, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Vietnam) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are jointly implementing the Coastal Ecosystem Protection Project in the Mekong Delta (MDC). The project's objective is to improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems in the Mekong Delta region and simultaneously mitigate threats to biodiversity and fisheries resources. The initiative is being implemented in the Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area (MPA) and three small island clusters in the southwestern sea (Hai Tac, Ba Lua, Nam Du), which are vulnerable coastal areas of the Mekong Delta.