Divers angered by Vietnam ban to protect damaged coral reefs, blaming fishing boats for the problem
- An indefinite ban on swimming and diving around Hon Mun island, a popular spot off Nha Trang, to evaluate damage to coral reefs has divers pointing fingers
- Diving has the least influence on ecosystem health, they say, blaming fishing. Officials previously cited climate change, dredging and waste disposal as factors
Vietnam has banned swimming and scuba diving at a popular central tourist spot in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reefs.
The nation boasts more than 3,200km of coastline with crystal clear waters, vibrant sea life and sandy beaches that are a huge tourism draw. But coral reefs across Southeast Asia have been badly hit by global warming, with scientists warning their degradation could have devastating environmental and economic knock-on effects.
“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 explained the ban was to “evaluate the condition of sensitive area so that an appropriate plan to enact the sea conservation area” could be made.
Effective from June 27, the ban would last “until further notice”, they added.
Around 60 per cent of the coastal bed in the area was covered by living coral in 2020, according to state media, but more recent findings showed that had shrunk to less than 50 per cent.