Nha Trang scrambles to save coral reefs from bleaching

Nha Trang scrambles to save coral reefs from bleaching

KHÁNH HÒA — Saving the coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area from massive bleaching is a priority that requires a long-term, scientific and sustainable strategy, scientists and oceanographers have said.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, and they expel symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white.

Recently, the public has been stunned by the image of coral around Hòn Mun Island, the core area of ​​Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area, which has been severely damaged.

The beautiful coral reefs are a tourist attraction in Nha Trang Bay for their diverse marine ecosystem and dense coral reef ecosystem, and as a breeding place for many species of fish.

Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area (formerly Hòn Mun Marine Protected Area) was established in  二00 一, covering an area of ​​about  一 六0 square kilometres, including  三 八 square kilometres of land and  一 二 二 square kilometres of water around nine islands of Hòn Tre, Hòn Miễu, Hòn Tằm, Hòn Một, Hòn Mun, Hòn Cau, Hòn Vung, Hòn Rơm and Hòn Ngọc.

It has diverse ecosystems in which hard corals are found on Hòn Mun Island.

According to scientific researchers, the coral reef ecosystem is particularly susceptible to environmental factors such as changes in temperature, light intensity, and acidity in the water. The amount of sediment and some elements of salts and metals also affect the viability of the coral reefs.

Dr Nguyễn Tác An, former director of Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, said the marine environment all over the country, including Nha Trang Bay, had been seriously degraded.

In addition to the impact of climate change, the Hòn Mun coral reef has been under pressure from economic development. An said it is necessary to have objective and scientific research and assessment on the cause of damage to the coral reefs.

Residents and visitors have also been angered.

Đỗ Thành Quân, a resident of Nha Trang City, said he returned to the diving site in Hòn Mun Island after two years of the pandemic and was sad to see white dead coral along the beach.

When diving deep into the sea floor, Quân said many areas of coral reefs were no longer as vibrant as in previous years.

A diving coach with more than  二0 years in the profession, who asked for anonymity, said the coral reefs were dying. The seabed of Hòn Mun had turned from a beautiful scene into ravaged, bleached coral reefs.

He said low awareness of marine conservation, illegal fishing and overexploitation, and loose management of functional forces were the main issues.

Alarming numbers

The assessment and monitoring of biodiversity resources have been carried out since  二00 二. The results of surveys and scientific research conducted by Nha Trang Oceanography Institute from  二00 二 to  二0 一 五 in Nha Trang Bay’s strictly protected areas showed that coral reefs remained stable.

Meanwhile, most monitoring points outside the protected area saw a decrease in the coverage of corals by  七. 二 per cent since  一 九 九 四.