VietNamNet Bridge - Many white-leg shrimp farming areas have been set up next to the Lap An Lagoon in Lang Co Town in Thua Thien - Hue province, threatening the world’s beautiful bay of Lang Co.

 

Many white-leg shrimp farming areas have been set up next to the Lap An Lagoon in Lang Co Town in Thua Thien - Hue province.

In late 2014, the Thua Thien – Hue provincial authorities released a decision on the management of the shrimp hatchery in Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon and Lang Co Bay, under which farmers have to farm shrimp in the specifically reserved areas if they can get permission from local authorities.

However, the regulation has been ignored. Lang Co Town’s people have been digging new ponds and buildings water tanks to serve the illegal shrimp hatchery. The illegal farming area has been expanded rapidly to tens of hectares.

More and more shrimp ponds have arisen next to the Lap An Lagoon and among crowded residential quarters in the hamlets of Loan Ly, Mui Doi and Hoi Dua.

Nguyen Van D in Lap An hamlet said he spent VND250 million to build two ponds for shrimp farming with the total area of 2,000 square meters. He can take back the investment capital and make profit after three farming crops.

D’s good business has prompted local men to follow him to farm shrimp. However, the man said since the shrimp density is high, shrimp have died en masse, causing big losses to farmers.

Lang Co Town’s people have been digging new ponds and buildings water tanks to serve the illegal shrimp hatchery. The illegal farming area has been expanded rapidly to tens of hectares.

“Some ponds are just less than 100 square meters in area, but there are tens of thousands of shrimp,” he said.

A lot of farmers are in debt because of the shrimp hatchery. T, a farmer in Hoi Dua, for example, said he has incurred a loss of VND100 million, while a neighbor of his has taken a loss of VND80 million.

What worries the locals the most, however, is that Lang Co Bay may be spoiled by the shrimp ponds. The waste water from the shrimp ponds has been polluting the bay which is recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Located on the central coast of Vietnam, which is famous for beautiful beaches, Lang Co beach, since June 2009 has become an official member of the “World’s most beautiful bays” club. 

Today, it is a popular destination for tourists, both Vietnamese and foreign, especially for those who love beach and natural landscapes.

However, there has been no official answer about how seriously the unplanned shrimp farming would affect Lap An Lagoon and Lang Co Bay. 

Meanwhile, Mai Van Xi from the Phu Loc district authorities thinks though the waste water would affect the environment in the lagoon, it would not affect Lang Co Bay.