Green Fins originally initiated by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has benefited the conservation of coral reefs and promote sustainable tourism practices...
Green Fins originally initiated by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has benefited the conservation of coral reefs and promote sustainable tourism practices.
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Dive operators have expanded in Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, etc. Diving activities in Vietnam have mainly taken place in marine reserves, national parks where coral reef are protected such as Nha Trang Bay, Cu Lao Cham, Nui Chua National Park, Phu Quoc, Con Dao and so on.
UNEP in association with the Coordinating Body of the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and Reef World Foundation has chosen Nha Trang to develop the Green Fins overseen by Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography.
Green Fins is a comprehensive approach that encourages dive centers and snorkel operators, local communities and governments to work together to reduce environmental impacts. This is primarily done through the private sector adopting a code of conduct which consists of 15 points, which target environmental threats caused by tourism activities both under water and on land.
Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography has implemented many activities, including conducting a survey on tourism diving in Nha Trang, suggesting management regulations, evaluating dive clubs according to criteria of Green Fins, building Green Fins Vietnam website at www.greenfins.net, publicizing Green Fins information, encouraging sustainable diving and so on.
“We have provided Green Fins information for dive clubs, organized volunteers to join environmental supervision, especially in Hon Mun core zone, provided environmental knowledge for captains and crew of tourist ships, held national workshops, etc. 13 out of 15 dive clubs have joined the effort so far,” says Engineer Thai Minh Quang, Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography.
Nguyen Duy Khuong, Sailing Club Nha Trang says, “Green Fins is beneficial to coral reef reservation and protection. We support it. Our club has encouraged its members and tourists to join the effort.
According to Truong Kinh, Director of Nha Trang Bay Management Board, there have been warnings of coral reef protection in Hon Mun core zone, but some violation cases have remained. "Green Fins has supported our work. Therefore, we will continue to expand the model after the project finishes,” he says.
To promote environmentally friendly swimming and diving, Nha Trang Bay Management Board has taken concerted action to build the plan for 2015, spend nearly VND20 million for such activities as rubbish collection from Hon Mun sea bed; purchase of snorkeling instruments; coral reef inspection, propaganda, etc.
According to Thai Minh Quang, initial satisfactory results have been gained and more joint effort is required for sustainable dive tourism.
N.T
