Monday, October 16, 2006
Experts call for action to save marine ecology around Phu Quoc
A group of Vietnamese scientists has called for setting up a marine reserve in Phu Quoc island to save the coral and other creatures in the area from overexploitation for commercial purposes.
In a letter the scientists wrote to the Kien Giang province people’s committee – the government – they said a 10,000 hectare area covering 13 small and medium islands in An Thoi Bay should immediately be declared a protected area.
They suggested 8,000 ha of this could be turned into an economic development zone, mostly for ecotourism, under official control.
They warned that the illegal exploitation of coral by divers and fishermen to sell to tourists threatened to destroy the habitat.
The An Thoi archipelago has 124 ha of coral reefs, 250 ha of sea grass, and a variety of marine creatures including the endangered dugong and dolphins and sea turtles.
The petition also warned that if the authorities did not act, Phu Quoc would go the way of other coastal resorts like Nha Trang and Ca Na whose coral reefs have been decimated.
Vietnam is thought to have one of the world's most diverse marine ecologies.
Source: Tuoi Tre – Translated by Luu Thi Hong
