Cat Ba, the pearl of the Tonkin Gulfand one of the three largest islandsin Vietnam in the northern port city of Hai Phong, is threatend bypollution.
Director of Cat Ba Bay Nguyen Dinh Khuong saidserious ecological pollution from the speedy urbanisation and theunenvironmentally friendly tourism and aquaculture had contributed tothe problem.
Khuong said thousands of tourists visit theisland in the summer by ship. These tourism ships combine with thehundreds of fishing ships release iste of all kinds to the water andcause serious pollution to the island. Though Cat Hai District put mucheffort into iste collection, it is not enough to combat the increasingiste and low awareness among the people.
In addition, morethan 10 floating restaurants serving about 200 customers daily have ahuge amount of rubbish that is released into the water withouttreatment.
Khuong pointed to the massive development ofaquaculture cage systems in Lan Ha Bay as the key factor damaging thelocal environment. This bay is said to be the most beautiful in theisland. Khuong calculated more than 200 cages are operating there.
Fisherman Nguyen Viet Can in Cat Ba town said he never saw such booming aquaculture in the area before.
Can added that not only this increase without sanitation facilities isharming the sea, but the abandoning of failed cages drew a bad portraitfor the bay.
Addressing the problem, Cat Hai Districtconducted a major review of aquaculture and appraised the bay damage inMay this year.
Director Khuong said they asked all theraisers to harvest their aquaculture products and be ready to move to aplanned area by May 2013 or their cages will be treated underenvironmental law.
Located east of Hai Phong and 150kmfrom Hanoi , Cat Ba consists of 366 large and small islands, beachesand limestone mountains. Cat Ba National Park covers a total area of15,200ha with hundreds of precious fauna and flora area. In 2004, Cat BaIsland is recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Director of Cat Ba Bay Nguyen Dinh Khuong saidserious ecological pollution from the speedy urbanisation and theunenvironmentally friendly tourism and aquaculture had contributed tothe problem.
Khuong said thousands of tourists visit theisland in the summer by ship. These tourism ships combine with thehundreds of fishing ships release iste of all kinds to the water andcause serious pollution to the island. Though Cat Hai District put mucheffort into iste collection, it is not enough to combat the increasingiste and low awareness among the people.
In addition, morethan 10 floating restaurants serving about 200 customers daily have ahuge amount of rubbish that is released into the water withouttreatment.
Khuong pointed to the massive development ofaquaculture cage systems in Lan Ha Bay as the key factor damaging thelocal environment. This bay is said to be the most beautiful in theisland. Khuong calculated more than 200 cages are operating there.
Fisherman Nguyen Viet Can in Cat Ba town said he never saw such booming aquaculture in the area before.
Can added that not only this increase without sanitation facilities isharming the sea, but the abandoning of failed cages drew a bad portraitfor the bay.
Addressing the problem, Cat Hai Districtconducted a major review of aquaculture and appraised the bay damage inMay this year.
Director Khuong said they asked all theraisers to harvest their aquaculture products and be ready to move to aplanned area by May 2013 or their cages will be treated underenvironmental law.
Located east of Hai Phong and 150kmfrom Hanoi , Cat Ba consists of 366 large and small islands, beachesand limestone mountains. Cat Ba National Park covers a total area of15,200ha with hundreds of precious fauna and flora area. In 2004, Cat BaIsland is recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.
