NinhThuan (VNS/VNA) - The south central province of Ninh Thuan is steppingup efforts to conserve marine bio-diversity and seafood resources, which playan important part in its socio-economic development.

Withits coastline of 105 kilometres, the province boasts a diverse range ofhigh-value marine species such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and corals.

Coralreefs and their eco-systems are among the most diverse, according to theprovincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which has recordedsix reefs with an average coverage rate of 42.6 percent in the province.

Theyinclude 344 species, including 46 found for the first time in the country.

Theseas include 535 fish, 45 molluscs and 24 crustacean species among others.

Theprovince’s 31,000ha Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Hai and Thuan Bac districtsis one of the few places in the country where green sea turtles, loggerheadturtles and hawksbill turtles come every year to lay eggs.

Theprovince has tied up with research institutes, universities and other domesticand foreign organisations to implement marine bio-diversityresearch programmes. 

Theyinclude upgrading a geographic information system (GIS) for gathering, managingand analysing data about coral reefs and eco-systems near the coast,periodically inspecting coral reefs, exploring typical marine eco-systems inNinh Hai and Thuan Nam districts, reviving saltwater mangrove foresteco-systems in Nui Chua and the Nai Lagoon to protect marine habitats.

Theprovince has established a 7,352ha marine reserve area in the Nui Chua NationalPark to protect rare species.

TranVan Tiep, Deputy Director of the Nui Chua National Park, said the park hasworked with research units and organisations at home and abroad to explore andassess the park’s marine resources and build data about them to protect andrevive eco-systems.

Thepark also has various programmes to protect sea turtles and other endangeredspecies and their habitats, he said.

Ithas set up teams of volunteers to protect the turtles and rescue areas formarine species to live in natural conditions before being released into thewild, he said.  

Thepark has stepped up advocacy activities to enhance people’s awareness of theimportance and value of marine resources and ensure their participation inprotecting the marine environment, he said.

Toprotect fisheries resources, the province has taken management measures andcarried out advocacy activities to convince fishermen to only catch seafoodduring certain seasons, use regulated fishing nets and desist from usingpoisons, explosives and electricity to kill fish.

Itreleases millions of shrimp and fishes into the sea every year to regenerateseafood, including 700,000 black tiger shrimp so far this year.   

Butit faces challenges in protecting marine bio-diversity and fisheries resourcessince aquaculture and littering have polluted some places. Climate change hasalso affected its marine bio-diversity.

TranQuoc Nam, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the province hasidentified preservation and proper exploitation of marine eco-systems andseafood resources as a priority to ensure socio- economic development.

Toimprove management of bio-diversity, the People’s Committee has assigned theDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment to periodically survey andassess the environment for drafting appropriate policies.

Theprovince is developing polices and mechanisms to attract resources for enhancingmarine conservation./.