Let's work together to protect the Tidal Basin.

Over the past two years, since the management of the Rạn Trào marine ecosystem (Vạn Hưng commune, Vạn Ninh district) was handed over to the local fishing community, the ecosystem has recovered, and negative impacts have been minimized. However, the activities of the Vạn Hưng commune's community-based fisheries resource protection group in protecting and developing the Rạn Trào marine ecosystem are facing some difficulties.

The ecosystem has been restored.

The Rạn Trào Marine Ecosystem Protection Area covers an area of ​​89 hectares, with the core zone alone spanning 54 hectares and featuring extensive coral reef coverage. Rạn Trào is considered to have a rich and diverse flora and fauna, and a relatively high coral cover of good quality compared to other reefs in Vân Phong Bay. Established in 2008, the Rạn Trào Marine Ecosystem Protection Area aims to demarcate and protect marine resources, safeguard the marine environment, conduct scientific research, facilitate educational visits, develop livelihoods, and receive funding from domestic and international projects. Since its establishment, the Rạn Trào Marine Ecosystem Protection Area has received support from numerous organizations, including: the International Marine Alliance in Vietnam; the Marine Conservation and Community Development Center (MCD); and the Community Development Fund. The Coastal Resources for Sustainable Development Project… Notably, in 2023, the People's Committee of Van Ninh district announced and awarded the decision recognizing and assigning the management rights of the Ran Trao Marine Ecosystem Protection Area to the Community Fisheries Resource Protection Team of Van Hung commune.

The fishing community in Van Hung commune is developing their livelihoods while protecting the marine ecosystem of Ran Trao.

After more than two years of being recognized and entrusted with management authority, the Community Fisheries Resource Protection Team of Van Hung commune has actively organized, managed, and conducted patrols and inspections of aquaculture and fisheries activities at Ran Trao Reef; the livelihoods of the community team members are also ensured thanks to the development of aquaculture in the buffer zone… The presence and management of the fishing community, especially the members of the aquaculture community team in the Ran Trao Reef area, have brought about positive changes in the protection and development of aquatic resources, minimizing negative impacts on the area. In addition, the conservation and development of aquatic resources at Ran Trao Reef has also received great attention from organizations and businesses, who annually join hands in releasing fish fry to regenerate aquatic resources there…

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Sang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Hung Commune and Head of the Community Group for the Protection of Aquatic Resources in Van Hung Commune, shared: “Recent surveys by the Marine Conservation and Fisheries Department (MCD) and related agencies show that coral reefs and seagrass beds at Ran Trao are developing very well, with high density, including hard and soft corals; many types of reef fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, sea cucumbers, abalone, sea urchins, etc., have gathered in the coral reef area of ​​the protected zone. In addition, the awareness of preserving the marine environment and aquatic resources among local people has been raised, and the use of destructive fishing methods in the Ran Trao area has been eliminated. Currently, Ran Trao accounts for more than 50% of the total number of aquatic species in Van Phong Bay, with coral accounting for 64%, reef fish 69%, and seagrass 75% of the total number of aquatic species in Van Phong Bay.”

There are still difficulties.

From the practical implementation of co-management, it has been observed that the protection of the Rạn Trào marine ecosystem still faces some difficulties, as the awareness and understanding of some fishermen regarding co-management of aquatic resources protection remain limited. The community group for protecting aquatic resources in Vạn Hưng commune lacks the resources to maintain management and protection activities at Rạn Trào and implement livelihood development models for its members. In patrol work, due to damaged equipment, it is impossible to deter illegal fishing in the Rạn Trào sea area. Currently, the placement of buoys in the Rạn Trào area is incomplete, failing to clearly define the core and buffer zones, making patrolling and protection difficult. “Despite these difficulties, the Community Fisheries Resource Protection Team of Vạn Hưng commune will strive to overcome them, continuing to coordinate with relevant units to strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts to raise public awareness in protecting and restoring fisheries resources at Rạn Trào; and encourage more dedicated and responsible fishermen to join the team for co-management of Rạn Trào. We request that the province provide financial support for operations, especially for patrolling, monitoring, and protecting Rạn Trào; invest in a buoy system to mark the boundaries and waters of the Rạn Trào Marine Ecosystem Protection Zone; and support livelihood development for team members…,” Mr. Sang said.

According to Mr. Le Dinh Khiem, Head of the Fisheries, Marine and Island Affairs Sub-Department, the Van Hung Commune Fisheries Resource Protection Community Group has effectively protected and developed fisheries resources at the Trao Reef under a co-management model. This model will continue to be replicated in other coastal localities in the province to improve management efficiency, gradually restore coastal fisheries resources, and improve the lives of coastal fishing communities. Given the difficulties faced by the Van Hung Commune Fisheries Resource Protection Community Group in implementing co-management at the Trao Reef, the Van Ninh District People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Environment have requested the Provincial People's Committee to consider providing annual operating funds for the community group; investing in a system of buoys to mark the boundaries of the Trao Reef marine ecosystem protection area… The Provincial People's Committee has issued a document instructing the Department of Finance to proactively work with the Department of Agriculture and Environment to agree on and advise the Provincial People's Committee on providing operating funds for the Van Hung Commune Fisheries Resource Protection Community Group.

HAI LANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202505/chung-tay-bao-ve-ran-trao-8aa54e6/