Coral reefs wwf

The People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province in south-central Vietnam ordered penalties against people treading on coral reefs at the Hon Yen national relic site on Tuesday. The order came after media reports of damage to the coral reefs caused by local people, tourists, and photographers. The landscape cluster of Hon Yen was recognized as a national relic site in April 2018. This is an ideal destination for seeing coral reefs which are often unveiled at low tides. A colorful coral reef at at the Hon Yen national relic site in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam. Photo: Duong Thanh Xuan / Tuoi Tre However, overtourism has harmed the marine ecosystem in the area. Many neglectful visitors walk on or touch the coral reefs, damaging or killing them. A colorful coral reef at the Hon Yen national relic site in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam. Photo: Le Trong Cuong / Tuoi Tre Most recently, images capturing a group of photographers trampling a coral reef at Hon … [Read more...] about Vietnamese province scrambles to handle people trampling coral reefs

Underwater tourism activities in areas that threaten coral reefs in the Nha Trang Bay, especially on Mun Island will be suspended from June 22. Scuba diving tours in areas within Nha Trang Bay, which is home to the world's most beautiful beaches, that threaten coral reefs will be suspended until the underwater ecosystem is fully restored, according to authorities in Vietnam's Khanh Hoa Province. Underwater life in Mun Island, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. Photo: Jonathan Seeyave Provincial authorities ordered relevant agencies to strictly protect Mun Island and cooperate with experts and research institutes to fully assess the current status of coral reefs. They believed that exploiting Nha Trang Bay with the involvement of the private sector, tourism and service business is necessary to protect the marine ecosystem. Earlier, the coral reefs in the area around Mun Island were found to be severely damaged. Coral damage occurs when corals … [Read more...] about Scuba tours in Nha Trang suspended to save coral reefs

The move came in the light of the shrinking coral reef ecosystem in Mun Island Marine Protected Area in Nha Trang Bay. Provincial authorities ordered relevant agencies to strictly protect Mun Island area and cooperate with experts and research institutes to fully assess the current status of coral reefs. Though Nha Trang beaches are up for tourism development, marine ecosystem protection must be a priority, authorities said. Nha Trang Bay is nearly 250 square kilometers and is one of 16 marine protected areas in Vietnam. In recent years, it has grown famous for scuba diving tours exploring its coral reefs and marine ecosystem. An inspection by the management committee of Nha Trang Bay earlier this year revealed that the Mun Island coral reef has shrunk significantly compared to 2015. The coral coverage rate to the island's northeast dropped from 54 percent to 32 percent while the rates fell from more than 50 percent to 11 percent in the southeast, and to 8 percent … [Read more...] about Nha Trang to suspend scuba tours to protect coral reefs

Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province have planned to temporarily suspend tourism diving services in Nha Trang Bay in an attempt to protect the mass dying coral reefs in the area. Dying coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay The Standing Board of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee on June 20 held a meeting to look into the coral reef degradation in Nha Trang Bay following reports from local media. The meeting concluded that recent reports on reef degradation in the bay, especially at Hon Mun Marine Protected Area, were true. Explaining the causes of the situation, experts at the meeting mentioned some objective causes relating to impacts of climate change and two strong storms, Damrey in 2017 and Rai in 2021. Meanwhile, the subjective cause is the loose management and coordination among relevant departments, sectors, and localities, along with impacts of improper human activities such as illegal fishing, unregulated coastal construction, and waste release from tourism … [Read more...] about Tourism diving to be suspended to protect coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay

Whenever the tide recedes, coral reefs stretching for kilometeres on Dong Hai beach in Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, Ninh Thuan province, showing up unique shapes and colors. In the photo: Coral reef is an attraction, especially for young people to visit and capture beautiful moments (Photo: VNA) Corals only emerge on the water surface from May to the end of July, especially on the 1st and the 15th day of lunar month when the tide is low (Photo: VNA) A brain-shaped coral (Photo: VNA) A beautiful coral reef appears on the sea water surface (Photo: VNA) Coral reef creates beautiful scenery to attract tourists (Photo: VNA) VNA … [Read more...] about Beauty of coral reefs in Ninh Thuan province

The Hòn Yến national scenic spot in An Hòa Hải, Tuy An, Phú Yên has some unique geological details forming an ecosystem of corals on the shallow surface of sand and volcanic rocks. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường PHÚ YÊN — As tourists return to Hòn Yến national scenic spot, their actions are also damaging the coral reefs. The Hòn Yến national scenic spot in An Hòa Hải, Tuy An, Phú Yên has some unique geological details forming an ecosystem of corals on the shallow surface of sand and volcanic rocks. However, outside the current threats of storms and waves, another danger has emerged to endanger this unique ecosystem. Many tourists who come here to take pictures of the coral reefs have stepped on them, making the coral crumble. "Here we have 17 species of coral reefs living," said Hồ Văn Trung, a resident. "To get an ecosystem and a scene such as this takes millions of years. Due to the pandemic, tourists stopped coming here, and the coral regenerated quickly." "But then tourists … [Read more...] about Hòn Yến coral reefs badly damaged

The management board of Nha Trang Bay in south central Khanh Hoa Province declared on Friday that all swimming and diving activities at Hon Mun Nature Reserve will be suspended beginning Monday next week and lasting until further notice. The decision was made as a result of the recent bleaching, damage, and decline of many coral species at Hon Mun Nature Reserve and other areas in Nha Trang Bay. According to the management board, the suspension of ocean leisure activities in the areas surrounding Hon Mun Nature Reserve is to comply with the notice issued by the People's Committee of Nha Trang on Friday. The purpose of the suspension is to survey and evaluate the current situation, identify vulnerable locations, and develop a strategy to preserve the Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area in the near future. According to Huynh Binh Thai, head of the management board, the suspension of swimming and scuba diving operations at Hon Mun Nature Reserve does not indicate the closure … [Read more...] about Sea leisure activities suspended following reports of dead corals at nature reserve in Vietnam

Vietnam has banned swimming and scuba diving at a popular central tourist spot in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reef, officials said Monday. The Southeast Asian nation boasts more than 3,200 kilometres of coastline with crystal clear waters, vibrant sea life and sandy beaches that are a huge tourism draw. Coral reefs across Southeast Asia have been badly hit by global warming, with scientists warning their degradation could have devasting environmental and economic knock-on effects. Recent photos taken off Hon Mun island -- about 14 kilometres from the city of Nha Trang and popular with divers thanks to its diverse ecosystem -- showed the reef bleached and damaged. "The Nha Trang bay management authority decided to halt swimming and scuba diving activities in areas around Hon Mun island," officials said. In a statement they said the ban was to "evaluate the condition of sensitive area so that an appropriate plan to enact the sea conservation area" could be made. … [Read more...] about Vietnam halts scuba diving off popular island to protect coral

The coral reef in Nha Trang Bay is considered in medium condition. — VNA/VNS Photo KHÁNH HÒA — Dive tourism in the Hòn Mun Marine Protected Area will be suspended from today to re-survey the coral reef and marine ecosystem for conservation, said Huỳnh Bình Thái, head of the Nha Trang Bay Management Board. The suspension will last until a new announcement from the management board. The decision came after a report in the media that the reef has been degraded. The provincial Party Committee held a meeting last week to investigate and found the report to be true. During the dive tourism suspension, concerned organisations will conduct surveys and research in the area to assess the current situation of the damaged ecosystems. "Then we will develop a suitable plan for the Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area’s work," Thái said. Other tourism activities on the bay can continue as normal. According to the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, the coral coverage in the … [Read more...] about Dive tourism suspended in Nha Trang’s Hòn Mun from Monday to protect coral

Agoda launches Eco Deals programme, offering a wide range of properties where travellers can give back to communities. — Photo Courtesy Agoda Global digital travel platform, Agoda, has recently launched its Eco Deals programme, which offers a wide range of properties where travellers can give back to communities and environmental initiatives. Agoda’s Sustainable Travel Trends Survey (2021) found consumers want to travel more sustainably, and that polluted beaches and waterways ranked as the top concern of tourists. Accordingly, the company has partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore to provide funds for, and to raise awareness of, marine habitat restoration initiatives in Southeast Asia and flood relief efforts in Australia. Eco Deals, which kicks off from 8 June 2022 to 8 December 2022, offers travellers the opportunity to select from a variety of holiday accommodation deals with a discount up to 15 per cent, and in turn, Agoda will make a donation of US$1 for … [Read more...] about Agoda’s Eco Deal initiative offers travellers exclusive deals that ‘give back’