Contamination of Phu Yen Province is pushing sea life towards extinction while water levels could consume the land.
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| O Loan Lagoon where 82 species of fish and 50 species of crustaceans are facing the threat of extinction as a result of water contamination |
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| In March 2010, hundreds of cubic metres of petrol leaked into Vung Ro territorial waters. |
The development of the coastal Phu Yen Province depends greatly on the exploitation of local natural resources and aquaculture. However, the province is now facing numerous problems regarding environmental pollution, landslides, erosion, etc.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources\' predictions for climate change and sea-water rise in Vietnam, if the sea-water rises by 100cm, 44.3664 square kilometres of land in Phu Yen Province will be submerged under water, greatly threatening life of residents in some districts in Tuy Hoa City. People in this region are already coping with erosion, landslides, and sea contamination.
Statistics reveals that some districts in Phu Yen Province are in danger of major erosion damage: Song Cau Commune from 300m – 1.5km, and Tuy An District from 700m – 1.5km. On average, the region is losing 10-20m, even 25-35m in some areas, of land every year.
Sea water at the industrial zones in the northeast of Cau River and Hoa Hiep, as well as at some fishing ports are being contaminated. The figures on biochemical oxygen and content of iron exceed the standard set by Vietnam.
O Loan Lagoon is one of the biggest agricultural areas in Phu Yen Province but the low content of dissolved oxygen (DO) here (just 4.6mg/litter) does not meet the standards set for agriculture and organism protection.
The number of species has decreased significantly due to water contamination, in which it has pushed red clams to the brink of extinction, a decrease of 95%.
These consequences are, besides other sources, caused by by local people’s activities. According to a survey of 18 villages in 12 coastal communes here, 100% of untreated waste from agriculture is being directly discharged into the sea.
In addition, the use of explosives and electricity to catch fish is also driving many kinds of sea life closer to extinction.
The number of people seeking a living by fishing and agriculture is increasing in the region. However, most of them are fighting with poverty and lack of knowledge about environmental issues and natural resources, which is the main obstacle for protection activities.
Relevant departments and organizations in Phu Yen Province have carried out many measures in order to enhance people’s awareness on environmental protection behaviors which negatively affect the sea environment as well as encouraging agriculture.
