Authorities of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa are taking measures to protect and restore the maritime ecosystem in lagoons and bays, focusing on forming marine preservation areas.
Nha Phu mangrove forest in Nha Trang (Photo: VNA) The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is working to set up a maritime protection area in Nha Phu lagoon. Covering 1,500 ha and stretching over seven communes and wards of Ninh Hoa town and a commune of Nha Trang city, Nha Phu is home to various flora and fauna species. Establishing the area would help protect the spawning grounds of aquatic species, thus restoring fisheries resources, which had decreased recently, said Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Hoa town Bui Thanh Binh. Since 2000, many marine preservation areas have been set up in the locality, contributing to restoring coral reefs. Measures were taken to collect solid waste, while mangroves forestation has been promoted. Apart from existing marine preservation areas, Khanh Hoa should set up more in Cam Ranh and Van Phong bays, and a national park in Hon Mun island of Nha Trang bay, scientists said. Boasting 385 km of coast, Khanh Hoa is one of four areas with the most marine biodiversity in the world. There are peninsulas and wind-tight bays of Nha Trang, Van Phong, Cam Ranh, in which Nha Trang is one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world. In addition, Khanh Hoa has a large oceanic water space for big-size fishery farming. Aside from beautiful beaches and islands, Khanh Hoa has an abundant oceanic species system in islands of Hon Tre, Hon Tam, Hon Mun and Hon Thi.
