Preserving the marine ecosystem of Bach Long Vi

The Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone is coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to accelerate the implementation of biodiversity restoration projects, while also strengthening the management of fisheries activities to conserve the marine ecosystem.

Border guards in Hai Phong are raising awareness among fishermen at Bach Long Vi harbor about combating illegal fishing. Photo: TRUNG KIEN

Protection combined with conservation

The Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City recently organized a council meeting to select a city-level science and technology project titled "Research on restoring the resources of some seaweed species in the Bach Long Vi Marine Protected Area". The project's objectives for the 2026-2028 period are to select 1-2 seaweed species for propagation and restoration; produce 2,000 seedlings attached to hard substrates using spore propagation techniques; and establish a seaweed restoration model in the Bach Long Vi Marine Protected Area with a scale of approximately 200 m².

According to experts from the Institute of Marine Research ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), seaweed is not only an important raw material in the food and pharmaceutical industries but also helps protect biodiversity, creating habitats and breeding grounds for many aquatic species. Research, conservation, and restoration of seaweed in the Bach Long Vi Marine Protected Area contribute to environmental and ecological protection, and the recovery of declining seaweed resources in the region. Seaweed beds play a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem. Seaweed is also a primary and important food source for the rare and economically valuable nine-holed abalone, endemic to Hai Phong.

This is a new step forward for Hai Phong in its efforts to conserve the Bach Long Vi marine ecosystem. By 2025, the Bach Long Vi sea area will have nearly 400 species, including 229 genera belonging to 105 families, with species of high economic value such as grouper, snapper, seaweed, spiny kelp, and seaweed...

The Bach Long Vi Marine Protected Area was established in late 2013 with an area of ​​over 27,000 hectares, divided into a strictly protected zone, an ecological restoration zone, a development zone, an outer sea area, and a protection zone. Within the Bach Long Vi Marine Protected Area, there are 94 species of coral belonging to 27 genera and 12 families. The plankton resources in this area are also very rich with more than 200 species of phytoplankton and more than 100 species of zooplankton...

Along with implementing scientific activities, functional agencies and the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone are stepping up propaganda to raise awareness among the people about protecting marine resources; at the same time, strengthening patrols, inspections, and strictly handling violations of the Fisheries Law.

Recently, the Bach Long Vi Border Guard Station, in coordination with the Coast Guard Region 1, conducted a campaign to raise awareness among over 350 fishermen working on 50 fishing vessels in the Bach Long Vi harbor about combating illegal fishing. The Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone People's Committee also imposed administrative penalties on a fishing vessel owner from Quang Ngai and confiscated the equipment used for illegal electric fishing.

The awareness of complying with legal regulations on fisheries exploitation among fishing vessels operating in the Bach Long Vi sea area has significantly improved. Photo: TRUNG KIEN

Pillars of sustainable development

During a meeting with the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone in early December, Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Ngoc Chau assigned specific tasks to departments, agencies, and the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone to promote the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the marine ecosystem of the Bach Long Vi sea area.

Accordingly, the People's Committee of the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone will coordinate with the Department of Construction, the City Military Command, and other relevant units to adjust the Special Economic Zone's planning, ensuring its consistency and synchronization with the "Project for the Construction and Development of the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone into a Regional Economic and Defense Center in the Gulf of Tonkin" currently being developed by the Ministry of National Defense. The project aims to concretize and effectively implement the three pillars of sustainable development of the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone as directed by the General Secretary, including: marine and island tourism and high-end resorts; the development of high-tech aquaculture, focusing on high-value aquatic species associated with the conservation and development of endemic genetic resources of the Bach Long Vi sea area; and the conservation of the marine and island ecosystem, socio-economic development linked to strengthening national defense and security.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology, the City Military Command, the Institute of Marine Research, the People's Committee of Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone, and other relevant departments and agencies, is developing a project on the conservation of genetic resources and the development of high-tech aquaculture linked to national defense and security in the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone, focusing on the nine-holed abalone and other endemic species with high economic value.

The Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, will support the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone in researching, applying, and transferring technical processes for breeding and commercial farming of nine-holed abalone and other high-economic-value aquatic species; and introducing industrial marine aquaculture technology (HDPE storm-resistant cages) or onshore recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) using renewable energy.

Preserving marine and island ecosystems is one of the pillars of sustainable development for the Bach Long Vi Special Economic Zone.

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Bach Long Vi Special Zone, Dao Minh Dong, along with focusing on implementing tasks as directed by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the city, in the coming time, the People's Committee of Bach Long Vi Special Zone will actively coordinate with functional agencies to implement many solutions and plans to protect and develop aquatic resources in the Bach Long Vi sea area. This includes strengthening the presence of functional forces at sea, actively patrolling, inspecting, and controlling, and resolutely handling violations of the law regarding illegal fishing activities. The committee will also continue to promote the effectiveness of disseminating legal information to island residents about the benefits and importance of protecting and preserving biological resources in the sea area around the island.
NGUYEN DUONG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/bao-ton-he-sinh-thai-bien-bach-long-vi-531065.html