Da Nang City has adopted project to protect coral reefs

Hanoi (VNA) – Central coastal Da Nang City has adopted a project to protect coral reefs lying off the Son Tra peninsula from now until 2015.

During the project’s first phase, which will last until 2012, the city will
place a boom around targeted areas, publicise information on the importance of
the country’s marine resources and set up a project inspection team.

The project is also designed to maintain the natural development of regional
marine species and enhance the cooperation between concerned agencies and the
local community to manage and utilise the province’s marine resources to
encourage the development of the local economy, including the tourism sector.

According to a survey by the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, the coastal
region stretching from Hon Chao to southern Hai Van and the Son Tra peninsula is
home to 191 different kinds of coral and hundreds of species of planktons and
molluscs.

However, 80 percent of the region’s coral reefs are being degraded due to their
uncontrolled exploitation by local people over a long period of time.-Enditem