Nha Trang Bay marine protected area, Vietnam: Initial trends in coral structure and some preliminary linkages between these trends and human activities (2002–2005)

Abstract

Nha Trang Bay marine protected area was establishted in 2002 as a pilot initiative to enable adequate management of the reef communities, while providing opportunities for alternative income to the local community. A re-assessment of the data obtained during the baseline survey performed in 2002 and of an inventory performed in 2005 indicates a reasonable decline in hard coral structure in the marine protected area. The reef of Hon Mun, a core zone at the hearth of the marine protected area and an attraction for underwater tourists, showed some recovery of the coral cover. Reefs in the buffer area of Hon Mieu and Hon Mot showed, on the contrary, great declines in the coral cover and abundance. These reefs are those most affected by human derived impacts, including urban run-off, mariculture, fishing, tourism, etc. The most distant reef, at Hon Tre, although formally a core zone, is allegedly under strong fishing pressure owing to lack of surveillance enforcement. The major impact, so far, seems to be a marked change in coral cover and species, especially in the deeper area. Despite the lack of data replication in the present work, it is becoming evident that coastal development and particularly, fisheries and mariculture which depend on great amounts of wild seed and feed collected in the area, may become antagonistic activities to the recovery of the reef to earlier states. Managers devising future management plans now have a base for re-consideration regime of adjacent industrial activities.