VietNamNet Bridge - The environment in the coastal areas of Binh Dinh province is facing risks – fishing activities, oil spills, waste from shrimp hatcheries on sand, and waste water from fisheries logistics services.

Binh Dinh, Vietnam

Tran Van Phuc, deputy director of the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the environment and biodiversity in coastal areas have been seriously deteriorating. 

Coral ecosystems, seagrass beds and fisheries resources have been diminishing due to exploitation activities with explosives, poison or trawling.

“Fishery boats of fishermen and cruise ships of travel firms have damaged coral reefs, destroying the habitat for aquatic creatures to gather and grow,” he said.

The problem is especially serious in Nhon Hai commune of Quy Nhon City. There are seven hectares of surface water with beautiful coral reefs.

But the coral reef is now in danger as Tan Phat Company has received a license from the provincial People’s Committee to develop tourism there.

Since the company has not taken reasonable measures to preserve the coral reef, it has been damaged severely. 

Meanwhile, the other two coral reefs nearby on Small Hon Kho Island are also in danger. The Nhon Hai commune authorities and people have tried to protect the coral reefs but their efforts have been in vain.

The environment in the coastal areas of Binh Dinh province is facing risks – fishing activities, oil spills, waste from shrimp hatcheries on sand, and waste water from fisheries logistics services.

Nguyen Ton Xuan Sang, deputy director of the Nhon Hai Tourism & Fisheries Cooperative, said that Nhon Hai had set up a taskforce in charge of protecting coral reefs. The workers are responsible for raising people’s awareness of the importance of coral reefs and encouraging them to join forces to protect the coral reef, which attracts tourists.

Binh Dinh’s sea environment has also been threatened by oil spill accidents. Deputy director of the province’s environment department, Dinh Van Tien, said in early 2014, an oil tanker sank in Quy Nhon’s waters, causing a serious oil spill accident, and requiring great efforts to fix the problems.

In 2015, a fishing boat sank in the waters of Ghenh Rang Ward. Luckily, the accident was settled quickly thanks to good preparation by local authorities, national defence forces and local residents.

Binh Dinh’s coastal areas are affected by waste water discharged by shrimp farms, food shops, waterway transport and plant protection chemical residue used in agricultural production.

Two agencies are in charge of monitoring and treating the sea environment – the Environmental Monitoring Center and the Environmental Protection Sub-department. 

Thanh Lich