Ca Mau: From landslides to opportunities for marine economic development

Ca Mau Ca Mau is researching a sea encroachment embankment model, combining a viaduct and a logistics service area, to both prevent landslides and create land funds for marine economic development.

The Ho Gui section (East coast) has regenerated forest after being protected by a centrifugal embankment. Photo: Trong Linh.

From landslides to opportunities for marine economic development

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung , Head of the Irrigation Department of Ca Mau province, said: Ca Mau's coast is being seriously affected by landslides and high tides, threatening infrastructure, production land and protective forests. However, this is also an opportunity for the province to implement a synchronous project model, both protecting the coast and developing new land funds to serve the marine economy, tourism and fishing logistics services.

To fundamentally solve the problem of coastal erosion, while simultaneously exploiting the potential and strengths of the marine economy (as suggested by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh) and preventing high tides from flooding urban areas, traffic works, and protecting production, Ca Mau province has proposed a system of sea encroachment works for coastal sections with suitable terrain and favorable locations for developing logistics service projects, tourism service areas, and fisheries logistics services, etc.

Specifically, the logistics area serving Hon Khoai General Port encroaches on the sea for about 1,000 hectares, 5km long, 2km wide, forming a strategic logistics center, serving Hon Khoai deep-water port; Khai Long - Dat Mui tourist area encroaches on the sea for about 1,000 hectares, a 10km long breakwater, 1km from shore, creating a land fund for developing eco-tourism, resorts, and marine services; Rach Goc marine economic service area, Hon Khoai logistics area encroaches on the sea for 1,500 hectares, a 15km long breakwater, developing fishing logistics services, marine logistics, and marine economic ecosystems; Nha Mat tourist area encroaches on the sea for 400 hectares, a 2km long breakwater, 2km from shore, creating a land fund for tourism, beaches, and public services.

Perspective of the breakwater model, combined with a viaduct to reclaim the sea. Photo: Trong Linh.

Breakwater combined with viaduct

According to the Department of Irrigation of Ca Mau province, the structure of the breakwater combined with the viaduct is 1-2km from the shore, the bridge surface is about 8m wide, helping to reduce waves, protect the coast, and at the same time create 3,900 hectares of clean land for investment projects. The estimated investment rate is about 300 billion VND/km, the total investment for 32km of breakwater is about 9,600 billion VND.

The economic value of this land fund is about 30,000 billion VND, not to mention the benefits from tourism, logistics, marine farming and fishing logistics services. This is a "2 in 1" solution: both preventing erosion and exploiting the potential of the marine economy.

The remaining eroded coastal sections need to urgently build embankments (with the goal of protecting the coastline), restore mangrove forests with a total length of about 108km, with a total investment of about 9,000 billion VND (West Sea 22km, investment rate of 60 billion VND/km; East Sea 86km, investment rate of about 90 billion VND/km).

Sea-encroaching logistics area serving Hon Khoai General Port and Hon Khoai Island. Photo: Trong Linh.

Proposing to reclaim the sea at Hon Khoai Island and the Sandbank located on the bridge leading from the shore to Hon Khoai Island, to create land to build service areas, logistics for Hon Khoai General Port, logistics services for fisheries. At the same time, soon invest in building a sluice gate to prevent high tides at Ganh Hao estuary to regulate and prevent flooding of urban areas and infrastructure inside.

In addition, Ca Mau province proposed to build Ganh Hao tidal sluice to prevent urban flooding, protect infrastructure and production inside. Deploy sea encroachment embankment at Hon Khoai island and sand dunes on the approach bridge, creating land fund for fishing and logistics services. Urgently build the remaining 108km of embankment to protect the community, infrastructure and mangrove forests.

Perspective of Ganh Hao culvert. Photo: Trong Linh.

Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, emphasized that only by preventing landslides and developing the marine economy in a synchronous manner can the province protect its coastline, residents and infrastructure in a sustainable manner. The sea encroachment model not only eliminates the risk of natural disasters but also creates new space for tourism services, logistics, seaports and ecological urban areas, in line with the orientation of green development, climate change adaptation and enhancing the value of the marine economy.

With a vision to 2030, these proposals are expected to make Ca Mau a driving force for marine economic development in the Mekong Delta region.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/ca-mau-tu-sat-lo-den-co-hoi-phat-trien-kinh-te-bien-d786158.html