Protecting Ran Trao marine ecosystem

Ran Trao marine ecosystem protected zone, Van Hung Commune, Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa Province boasts high biodiversity. A community-based management model with the participation of enterprises has been proposed to protect Ran Trao.

 

A corner of Ran Trao marine ecosystem protected zone.

 

Ran Trao marine ecosystem protected zone covers nearly  89ha, including 54ha strictly protected  core zone with abundant coral reef on Van Phong Bay. Marine creatures in Ran Trao account for 50% of those found on Van Phong Bay. Ran Trao also has rich fauna and flora, including 82 coral reef, 69 fish together with many valuable marine creatures such as seahorses, sea grass, shells, Holothurian, Panopea generosa, etc. Therefore, effective protection of marine ecological system in Ran Trao plays an important role in biodiversity conservation in Van Phong waters.

 

Reportedly, since the foundation of Ran Trao Marine Ecological Reserve, Van Ninh District People’s Committee has cooperated with many international organizations, oceanographic researchers, local departments and agencies to build Ran Trao Marine Ecological Reserve. Van Ninh District People’s Committee has founded a core group to protect Ran Trao with the involvement of local fishermen known for responsibility and ability in marine activities. Besides, the fishermen’s community has been also motivated to join the protection effort.

 

Ran Trao Protection Core Group has operated on shifts and maintained a 24-hour patrol, helping protect coral reef and regenerate marine resources. Besides, communications and propaganda have been boosted in localities to raise public awareness of protecting marine environment and resources. Since 2002, environmentally-friendly livelihood creation models such as aquaculture, handicraft, eco-tourism, agricultural development have been developed, contributing to improving the life of fishermen. However, for many reasons, the models have not reached high efficiency as expected. Coral reef fish, especially big ones are on the decrease due to pollution caused by aquaculture practice in neighboring areas.

 

Protection and management models in Ran Trao have proved affective but still faced some challenges related to funding for protection activities, grants for the protection core group, marine biodiversity propaganda, etc. The funding for the protection activities has come from the government and non-governmental organizations; therefore, financial problems have arisen, especially since Centre for Marine life Conservation & Community Development (MCD) completed its support program for Ran Trao protected area in 2015, according to Dang Tri Thong, an expert at Van Ninh District Economic Office.

 

Destructive fishing practice have been strictly punished in recent years and Ran Trao has been better protected. To regenerate coral reef and marine resources, more effective measures are required to help poor fishermen depending on inshore fishing to get new livelihood, etc, says Tran Van Them, a fisherman in Van Hung Commune.

 

Van Ninh District Economic Office has just suggested a management model with the participation of the Government, enterprises and the community. Based on scientists’ consultancy, Van Ninh District People’s Committee will cooperate with enterprises on management, zoning, regulations on activities enterprises allowed to develop in Ran Trao; prohibit exploiting natural resources in the region; evaluate biodiversity in Ran Trao, etc. Enterprises’ role is to develop tourism activities without damaging ecosystem, invest in coral reef expansion, etc. Fishermen’s community will get engaged in Ran Trao management work and supervise enterprises’ practice in Ran Trao, etc.

 

H.L

Translated by N.T