VietNamNet Bridge – The pollution in HCM City's rivers and canals is severely affecting people living on aquaculture, an expert has said.

Nguyen Van Phuoc, head of the Viet Nam National University – HCM City's Institute of Environment and Resources, said clean water sources meant aquaculture farmers could reduce the use of chemicals for cleaning.

But HCM City's water sources are polluted by industrial waste.

A study by the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development found almost all the City's rivers and canals were polluted.

Minor rivers in the districts of Nha Be, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, and Cu Chi were "seriously" polluted.

Just certain short stretches of the Sai Gon and Dong Nai rivers are "slightly" polluted with most of the rest as well as the Nha Be, Long Tau, Soai Rap and Can Gio rivers being "medium" polluted.

Only some stretches on any of the rivers are suitable for aquaculture. One of them is in the Dong Nai between its confluence with the Sai Gon and the upper reach of the Dau Tieng Lake.

Two others are in the Sai Gon: from Tay Ninh to Ben Dinh and Binh Phuoc Bridge to Sai Gon Bridge.

Besides, there are several sections along the Nha Be, Soai Rap, Long Tau, Nga Bay and Vam Sat rivers.

In the southern part of Binh Chanh District and Nha Be District, the Long Tau, Go Da and Thi Vai rivers are unusable for aquaculture as are all the canals in the City.

As a result of the lack of water, almost all shrimp farmers and many fish farmers in Nha Be, Can Gio and Cu Chi districts have quit.

They blamed the pollution in Dong Dien River on the Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park where many new factories are being built.

Those continuing with shrimp farming have to draw water from other rivers.

The Fisheries Quality Assurance and Aquatic Resources Protection Department and An Nghia quarantine station take water samples twice a month from the river to study and make recommendations to farmers.

A similar situation is also occurring in the districts of Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Nha Be and Can Gio where an estimated 3,000 shrimp and fish farmers are extremely worried about the pollution.

The Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper quoted Dr Le Van Khoa, deputy director of the Environment Protection Bureau, as saying: "Relevant authorities should crack down on the discharge of waste by factories and industrial parks and also protect water resources for aquaculture."

* Denmark pledges $8m in aid to study effects of climate change

Denmark is to give Viet Nam US$8 million for research over the next three years as part of an agreement ratified by the two nations yesterday, March 9.

The agreement, signed by Science and Technology Deputy Minister Tran Viet Thanh and Danish Ambassador John Nielsen, is an extension of the co-operation programme between the two countries.

The programme aims to support Viet Nam's studies of climate change and scientific methods to mitigate its effects.

About $2.7 million will be spent this year on three projects: response to climate changes, improving infrastructure of research institutions, and training for Vietnamese staff working in this field.

The research co-operation programme began three years ago when Denmark gave Viet Nam $6 million for six projects.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News