From near extinction, staghorn coral is being revived through a grassroots effort led by Vietnamese youth determined to protect their marine heritage.
Witnessing the slow disappearance of coral reefs in his hometown’s waters, Pham Van Duc and a group of like-minded young people have poured in time and money to revive the once-vibrant staghorn corals under the sea of Co To.
Duc uses iron frames to hold staghorn coral transplants under the sea.
Born and raised on Thanh Lan Island, part of the Co To special district in Quang Ninh province, 33-year-old Pham Van Duc has been gifted with swimming and diving skills since childhood.
Many times, he accompanied his parents out to sea for fishing, where he was mesmerized by the breathtaking coral reefs - labyrinth-like structures that captured his imagination.
Over time, the vibrant dive sites that once dazzled have deteriorated or disappeared altogether.
In addition to coral bleaching caused by climate change, destructive human activities have further devastated this fragile ecosystem.
Fishermen using explosives, electric shock devices, or bottom trawling nets unintentionally destroy large swaths of coral reefs lying beneath the sea surface.
Staghorn coral is successfully revived in Co To waters.Around 500 square meters of staghorn coral has been planted.Duc’s team includes about 10 people working underwater to plant corals.
“Seeing fewer and fewer corals in Co To, I thought to myself: if this continues, future generations won’t even know how beautiful our home sea once was. That’s when the idea of restoring coral - like planting a forest - began to take shape,” Duc shared.
In 2023, Duc and his fellow divers began surveying and assessing coral reef conditions around Co To. They documented approximately 43 coral species still surviving in the area.
However, staghorn coral - a once-common species - was nearly extinct. Despite extensive dives, they found only one or two small clusters about 15 cm tall.
Determined to restore this species, Duc and his 10-person team traveled to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc to learn propagation techniques and coral farming methods from experienced practitioners.
Since 2023, the team has spent about $8,000 annually on their coral revival project.
They chose Hon Sim, near Thanh Lan Island, as the ideal site to install frames for coral transplants.
Pham Van Duc has spent years restoring coral under the Co To seabed.Duc’s group continues to propagate coral and expand the project.
The staghorn coral samples they collected were affixed to iron frames. Every step was carried out directly underwater at depths of around 10 meters.
“The hardest part is collecting the coral samples and protecting them. We also need to study the water conditions - currents, depth, and pollution levels - to ensure coral survival,” Duc explained.
So far, Duc’s team has successfully cultivated about 500 square meters of staghorn coral under the sea, and the colonies are growing well.
Now that they’ve overcome initial challenges with sampling and have become more proficient, they plan to expand the project.
In summer, Duc and his teammates dive daily to monitor coral growth. During the colder months, they reduce this to once a week.
“In the early days, I kept wondering whether the coral would survive and thrive. Would it form a reef like we dreamed?
Fortunately, things have taken a positive turn. We’re confident the reef’s size will grow. We’re also exploring propagation of other beautiful coral species to enrich our home sea’s biodiversity,” Duc said.
Speaking to VietNamNet, Nguyen Hai Linh, Head of the Department of Culture and Society of the Co To special district, confirmed that after receiving Duc’s proposal, local authorities connected his team with experts in Nha Trang to improve propagation techniques.
The local government also helped publicize the project to increase awareness, and encouraged Duc’s team to develop eco-tourism tours linked to environmental conservation.
“Visitors joining Duc’s team can snorkel or dive to see the corals, participate in cleaning up ocean trash, and learn about coral restoration efforts. This is a new type of tourism that supports both the local economy and a clean, green environment,” Linh said.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
