VietNamNet Bridge – The central province of Quang Ngai has decided to establish the Ly Son marine reserve of nearly 8,000 hectares in order to preserve marine resources and biodiversity and improve livelihoods for local people.

The reserve area to be established aims to maintain and protect sea resources and biological varieties, and facilitate economic development and ecological tourism, while sustainably using local aquatic resources. — File Photo

The marine reserve will cover 7,000 hectares of water surface.

The aim is to conserve the ecosystem of coral reefs, seaweed and aquatic species living in the area.

The total budget required for the reservation area between 2015 and 2020 is more than VNN33.8 billion (US$1.5 million)

Mr. Tran Ngoc Cang, Chairman of the Quang Ngai People’s Committee, said the establishment of the Ly Son marine reserve will help protect marine resources and biodiversity, and create favorable conditions for local people to improve their living standards. The effort aims to sustainably use fishery resources and create ecological landscapes to attract tourists.

Nguyen Dang Vu, director of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, said they have been compiling scientific data and documents to cement the area's status as a national and global Geopark.

The island district of Ly Son is part of the expanded Dung Quat Economic Zone of over 45,300 hectares.

Under the government’s plan, Ly Son is one of the six islands in Vietnam that must be developed strongly in terms of economics and defense.

Two years ago, two trading vessels that were used about 700 years ago were discovered off the coast of Binh Chau in Binh Son District.

Ceramic and stone artefacts from an old shipwreck were also discovered during a deep water excavation near the islet of An Binh, located 3km from Ly Son Island.

Archaeologists believe the ceramic pieces date back to the 15th century, while the stone fragments are thought to come from the Cham Pa Kingdom in the 13th century.

According to local authorities, the reserve area to be established aims to maintain and protect sea resources and biological varieties, and facilitate economic development and ecological tourism, while sustainably using local aquatic resources.

Linh Nhat