Recently, the protection, conservation and development of Hon Yen coral reef (An Hoa Hai commune, Tuy An district) has received attention from the province and domestic and foreign environmental protection organizations, so the marine ecosystem in this area has many developments. Currently, Phu Yen is keeping investing and proposing the establishment of Hon Yen wetland conservation area.
The working group of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment surveyed coral reefs in Hon Yen sea area
Prosperous marine flora and fauna
Hon Yen complex area has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national scenic relic since 2018. This place has many outstanding features in geology, geomorphology, flora and fauna, creating a prosperous, diverse, valuable marine ecosystem in culture, history and potential for developing coastal tourism.
Hon Yen coral reef is located in a cluster of coral reefs from An Hoa Hai commune to An Chan commune (Tuy An district). Hon Yen coral reef complex includes Hon Yen, Hon Dun, Ban Than, Ganh Yen, Hon Choi, Vung Choi with an area of about 30.2 hectares. In this area, soft coral groups dominate.
Research results of the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center (Ministry of Defense) in 2020 and recent years, recorded 22 species belonging to 7 families, typically soft corals belong to the family Alcyoniidae (genus Lobophytum) and foraminiferal corals Acroporidae, mainly Montipora sp. Acropora spicifera.
According to Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Dang Hoi, Director of the Institute of Tropical Ecology (Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center), a number of coral species of other families were also recorded in Hon Yen area such as Agariciidae, Merulinidae, Poritidae, Psammocoridae, Scleractinia..., typical species in the group of cabbage corals Montipora foliosa, Montipora monasteriata, Montipora aequiuberculata and branch-shaped corals Acropora nobilis. In the west of Hon Yen, there is a unique Scleractinia rocky coral reef with good coverage and high abundance, distributed at a depth of about 1m in the wave area and at a depth of 3-4m is a typical distribution of soft corals.
Seagrass plants are recorded with 3 species and seaweed with 7 species. Animals have been recorded with sea stars such as Culcita novaeguineae, Echinasteridae family starfish, Acanthasterplanci crown-of-thorns starfish; sea cucumbers, sea anemones, crinoids, sea urchins, bivalves, molluscs, crustaceans... Skeletal animals are mainly reef fishes (nearly 60 species belonging to 23 families). Some fish species that are easy to see at Hon Yen at water levels of 1-4m include butterfly fish, dwarf fish, two-spotted lizard fish, spiny tail fish, clown fish, red pomfret fish, devil-faced fish, lion fish, Fairy fish…
Initial effectiveness in protection and conservation
In August 2020, the Global Environment Fund (Small Projects Program in Vietnam under the United Nations Development Program) sponsored the province to implement a project to strengthen community capacity in preserving coral reef populations. Hon Yen, with a total budget of nearly 3.2 billion VND, of which the Global Environment Fund sponsored nearly 1.1 billion VND, the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center sponsored 900 million VND, the rest was matched by the province. The project's goal is to improve community awareness and capacity in managing and exploiting marine resources and protecting ecosystems.
According to the People's Committee of An Hoa Hai commune, in order to protect the Hon Yen coral reef population, in addition to the provincial and district authorities, the locality has established a cooperative group to manage, protect and preserve coral reefs, and organize a community tour to contribute to creating sustainable livelihoods for local people.
Mr Dinh Van In, Head of the Hon Yen Coral Reef Management and Protection Cooperative Group, informed: Established in 2022, the cooperative group was assigned by province and Tuy An district to protect the Hon Yen coral reef ecosystem. Up to now, the group has nearly 40 members, initially operating effectively in preserving and developing coral reefs. People here have also raised awareness of environmental protection, and voluntarily assigned each other to participate in protecting coral reefs, because this is a long-term and stable livelihood.
Proposing to establish a conservation area
The project of Strengthening Community Capacity in Conservation of Hon Yen Coral Reef Population initially formed a policy and mechanism framework, providing capacity for the local community to protect local natural resources. The project has assigned the right to manage and protect Hon Yen coral and develop regulations to coordinate the implementation of a co-management mechanism between the cooperative group and relevant organizations and individuals.
In April 2023, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision regulating the management, protection and conservation of Hon Yen coral reef. The plan to protect and preserve the Hon Yen coral ecosystem has established 4 functional areas. Accordingly, the core area (A0) has a reef area of nearly 17.7 hectares, currently has a coral reef foundation, seagrass beds, and distributed seaweed.
This area is strictly protected to minimize impact on the coral ecosystem. The buffer zone (B1) with an area of about 22.5 hectares, is established as a subdivision linking tourism and geological research, a potential area capable of developing ecotourism.
The buffer zone (B2) has an area of about 20 hectares, a subdivision for lobster farming and nursery development to ensure the main source of income for the community living here. In the long term, it will develop towards a tourism service model and a scientific tour model.
Buffer zone (B3) with an area of about 8.35 hectares, the fisheries logistics service sub-zone is a concentrated area for anchoring fishing boats and fishing logistics services during stable weather times of the year. Limiting the concentration of too many boats during the rainy season and high tides.
Tuy An District People's Committee has also recognized and authorized community organizations to carry out co-management in protecting aquatic resources in the coral reef area of An Hoa Hai commune. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of Tuy An District People's Committee, the locality has approved the plan to protect and exploit aquatic resources and the operating regulations of the Hon Yen Coral Reef Management and Protection Cooperative Group.
The district has also issued a plan to carry out the tasks of demarcation and demarcation, zoning and protection of Hon Yen coral reef for co-management. Tuy An District People's Committee is reviewing and adjusting the planning of aquaculture areas in the Hon Yen area with an area of 20 hectares, to minimize impacts on the coral ecosystem.
In early 2022, the United Nations Development Program supported the implementation of the Project of build a financial mechanism to protect the coral ecosystem at Hon Yen (phase 2). After 2 years of implementation, the units have focused on activities to raise awareness and community capacity in managing, exploiting and protecting marine resources, especially coral reef ecosystems. The locality has also established a reception point and guided visitors to services and tourism according to an environmentally friendly model.
“In order to continue to preserve and develop the Hoa Yen coral reef population, the province has proposed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to facilitate financial and technical support to establish the Hon Yen wetland conservation area, with the type of landscape protection", informed Mr Nguyen Thai Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Translated by Hai Loan