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Cycle 5 (2015 Deadline)
Study on coral reef resilience in comparative areas in south Vietnam for marine biodiversity conservation in a changing world
PI: Vo Si Tuan (vosituan@gmail.com), Institute of Oceanography
U.S. Partner: Mark Eakin, NOAA Coral Reef Watch
Project Dates: December 2016 - July 2022
Project Overview
This project is aimed at understanding coral reef resilience capacity in comparative areas in southern Vietnam under changing stresses (increased temperature and human activities) and developing guidelines for biodiversity conservation and resources management. To achieve these goals, the researchers will assess coral bleaching in 2016 in three representative reef areas (Nha Trang Ninh Thuan coastal waters as an example of an upwelling area, Con Dao islands in the western South China Sea, and Phu Quoc islands in the coastal Gulf of Thailand). They will also conduct studies on biological and physical features associated with coral reef resilience at the site level of each area in order to develop recommendations on possible changes in zoning and adaptive management of marine protected areas (MPAs). Studies will also be carried out on settlement and recruitment of corals and inter-population connectivity of target reef organisms among the three areas. Near the end of the project, the team will develop guidelines for the conservation of marine biodiversity in southern Vietnam to promote resilience to sea temperature changes and human activities. The U.S. partner and his colleagues will provide their experience and data, especially in nowcasting and forecasting of sea temperatures in relation to coral bleaching and other phenomena. NOAA methodology on coral reef resilience will be critical in order to ensure that data on the project are aligned with international standards.
The project will facilitate improvement of zoning and adaptive management of several protected areas, including Nha Trang Bay MPA, Nui Chua and Con Dao National Parks, and Phu Quoc MPA. The approach to be taken will involve MPA managers and local communities in implementing the project, thus helping to disseminate scientific knowledge to local officials and practitioners. The project will also contribute to the existing efforts of the Nha Trang Bay and Phu Quoc MPAs in involving the tourism sector in managing and rehabilitating corals reefs for ecotourism purposes. At the large scale, the comparative studies to be carried out on this project will also provide data on resilience among various types of reef areas, considering the connectivity of reef communities among upwelling waters and other factors.
 | |  | | Significant coral damage witnessed following a major storm (images courtesy of Dr. Vo). | Attendees from the December 18, 2017 consultation workshop at Nui Chua National Park. |
Final Summary of Project Activities
During the course of this nearly six-year project, Dr. Vo Si Tuan and his team conducted 26 field campaigns to the four target areas in their study: Nha Trang Bay, Ninh Hai coastal waters, Con Dao islands, and Phu Quoc islands. The data collected under this and previous studies were provided to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) as a contribution to their report on the status and trends of East Asian Coral Reefs: 1983–2019 (Kimura et al. 2022). In numerous papers produced under the project, team members also analyzed their data to identify trends in coral reef degradation and resilience in the face of anthropogenic impacts, extreme weather events, rising sea temperatures, and coral bleaching. The PEER team also cooperated with another national project to study the genetic structure and population connectivity of Siganus guttatus (orange-spotted spinefoot) and Amphiprion perideraion (pink anemonefish) in marine habitats in the coastal waters of Vietnam. The findings from this work enabled the researchers to make recommendations on the appropriate establishment of marine protected area (MPA) networks and sustainable management for these fish species.
To help ensure the greatest impact for their research, the team worked closely with authorities of local MPAs. They provided multiyear data on changes of coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay to support Khanh Hoa Province in evaluating the severe degradation of coral reefs in this bay and suggesting solutions for management and restoration. The team presented further proposed activities at the International Symposium on New Frontiers in Reef Coral Biotechnology held in Taiwan in May 2022. The integration of the project data and previous records also facilitated the evaluation of marine conservation effectiveness of Con Dap National Park during 2009-2019 (Vo et al. 2020). The results from this study were used as inputs for the revised management plan of Con Dao National Park for the period 2020-2030. The same approach was applied for the rezoning and developing the revised management plan of Phu Quoc MPA. The project also integrated with local activities in propagating and implementing new approaches on marine conservation within MPAs, including coral reef management for the development of ecotourism in Nha Trang and restoration of hard corals and pearl oysters in Phu Quoc (Vo & Hua, 2021). In addition, the project provided updated information and approaches for a book entitled Ecology and Resources of Coral Reefs in Vietnam (Vo Si Tuan & Nguyen Van Long, 2022). Chapter 7 of the book provides guidance on development and management of MPAs in Vietnam and related issues such as reef restoration, monitoring, participatory management, and integrated management within MPAs. Chapter 8 on research and management of target reef areas highlights physical features, biodiversity, threats, and proposed solutions for adaptive management in five reef areas (Cu Lao Cham, Nha Trang, Ninh Hai, Con Dao and Phu Quoc).
Besides their collaboration with U.S. partner Dr. Mark Eakin and colleagues at NOAA, the project also supported cooperation with a national Vietnamese project and a joint Vietnamese-Russian project to develop the baseline data on ocean acidification in nearshore and offshore South Vietnam (southwestern South China Sea) (Phu et al, 2021). Three years of data on the parameters related to ocean acidification collected in reef and non-reef areas were provided to the UNESCO/IOC database for tracking implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 in Vietnam. For reef areas, Linh et al. (2021) provided a baseline of the parameters on the reefs at Phu Quoc islands, Binh Thuan skerries, Nha Trang Bay, Con Dao, and Tho Chu islands. In addition, data on reef features collected by the PEER team contributed to an improved understanding of reef fauna in Vietnam.
On the capacity building side, the project cooperated with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Vietnam and the OC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) in organizing an October 2019 workshop on oceanography and ocean acidification for 25 trainees from research institutions and universities. Furthermore, the project cooperated with IUCN and WWF to organize an integrated training workshop in April 2022 for improvement of management effectiveness of MPAs in Vietnam. Following that workshop, the project team conducted a site training to help the staff of Bai Tu Long National Park develop a monitoring program with appropriate ecological and socioeconomic indicators. The project PI Dr. Tuan was also invited to attend a series of national workshops on management of national MPA network in 2019 and 2020. The inputs from the project on coral reef status, reef fisheries, coral bleaching, and reef resilience, as well as impacts from economic activities on the marine environment, were provided in the workshops. Through these events, several solutions were proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve the MPA network, including co-management and enforcement, rezoning to ensure conservation purpose under development demands, integration of conservation and tourism, enhancement of responsibility of users in MPAs, delivery of provincial guidance on engagement of private sector in management, restoration and utilization of ecosystem resources, forecasting of coral bleaching, and minimization of cumulative impacts to enhance coral reef resilience.
The project was also notable for the degree of integration with local private sector organizations on activities for propagating and implementing new marine conservation approaches within MPAs. For example, the PEER team worked with four tourist companies (Vinpearl, Dong Tam, Tri Nguyen, and Hong Hai – Six Sense) on models of coral reef management for the development of ecotourism in Nha Trang Bay. The analysis of trends of coral cover and density of reef fishes and large invertebrates at three sites allowed the researchers to assess the effectiveness of three years of management and propose further actions for sustainable use of coral reefs in the tourism industry in Nha Trang Bay. With the support from the Phu Quoc MPA, restorations of hard corals and pearl oysters were conducted by the Ngoc Hien Pearl Company at two sites to promote both marine conservation and tourism. In terms of management, the participation of private sector in oyster restoration demonstrated the usefulness of the MPA’s policy of engaging local stakeholders in management of marine resources.
By the time of their final report in August 2022, Dr. Tuan and his colleagues had received three follow-on grants from Vietnamese sponsors totaling more than $80,000. They plan to continue their work in cooperation with national and provincial entities to conduct further activities related to coral reef conservation and MPA management. Additional papers on their findings and recommendations are also anticipated. In addition, the team has been contributed actively to IOC/WESTPAC efforts in developing an initiative entitled “Save Our Corals: A partnership programme on coral reef resilience” to submit as a program proposal for the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Recently, the team has also developed joint project between their institute and the Australia Institute of Marine Science on coral reef research and management, which would include the involvement of MPA authorities.
Publications
Vo Si Tuan and Nguyen Van Long. 2022. Ecology and Resources of Coral Reefs in Vietnam. Publishing House of Natural Science and Technology. Hanoi. Vietnam, 291pp.
C. Mark Eakin, Denise Devotta, Scott Heron, Sean Connolly, Gang Liu, and 163 more. 2022. The 2014-17 Global Coral Bleaching Event: The Most Severe and Widespread Coral Reef Destruction. Biological Sciences. Preprint. Posted June 6, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1555992/v1
Vo Tran Tuan Linh, Phan Kim Hoang, Le Hung Phu,Nguyen Hong Thu, Phan Minh Thu, and Vo Si Tuan. 2021. Coral calcification in the southern part of Viet Nam, studied with a new method. Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull. 78:29–38. https://doi.org/10.14456/pmbcrb.2021.2
Le Hung Phu, Vo Tran Tuan Linh, Pham Hong Ngoc. An initial study on ocean acidification in Southern waters of Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 21, No. 1; 2021: 47–55. https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/16051 http://www.vjs.ac.vn/index.php/jmst
Vo Si Tuan and Hua Thai Tuyen. 2021. Restoration of the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima (Jameson, 1901) in Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area, Vietnam. Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull. 78:123–131. https://km.dmcr.go.th/ckeditor/upload/files/Research%20Bulletin/Abstract/Bulletin_78_abs_13.pdf
Vo Si Tuan and Tran Van Chung. 2021. A study of dispersal patterns of reef corals in Vietnam under the influence of current regime of Bien Dong. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 21, No. 4A; 2021: 173–180.
Vo S.T., Hoang X.B., Tran D.H., Hua T.T., Phan K.H., Mai X.D., Nguyen T. H. 2020. An evaluation of the effectiveness of marine conservation in Con Dao National Park, 2009–2019. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 20, No. 4B; 2020: 243–250.
Phan Kim Hoang, Vo Si Tuan, Thai Minh Quang, Dao Tan Hoc, Hua Thai Tuyen. 2020. Bleaching of coral in Nha Trang, Ninh Thuan, Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands in June–July 2019. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 20, No. 4A; 2020: 55–60 https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/15649
Long Van Nguyen and Dat Xuan Mai. 2020. Reef fish fauna in the coastal waters of Vietnam. Marine Biodiversity 50:100 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-020-01131-2
Mai Xuan Dat, Nguyen Van Long, Phan Thi Kim Hong. 2020. Coral reef fishes in the coastal waters of Ninh Thuan province. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 20, No. 4A; 2020: 125–139 https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/15656
Vo ST, Phan KH, Hua TT, Thai MQ, Hoang XB. 2020. Genus-specific bleaching at Con Dao Islands, Southern Vietnam, June 2019. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 22: 27-28. https://doi.org/10.3755/galaxea.22.1_27
Vo, S.T., Hua, T.T. & Phan, K.H. 2019. A study of coral reef resilience and implications of adaptive management and rehabilitation in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 38, 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1377-7
Vo Si Tuan and Nguyen Van Long. 2019. Some scientific issues related to biological resource use and management toward sustainable development of marine economy in the costal provinces in South Central Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology 19 (4A): 251–258 (in Vietnamese).
Hoang Xuan Ben and Vo Si Tuan. 2019. Recent use of habitat service value for tourism and impacts on coral reefs in the target destinations in Southern Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol. 19, No. 4A; 2019: 131–138 https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/19/4A/14601
Vo Si Tuan. 2019. Coastal – marine ecological linkage in the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve. In: Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve: 10 years’ Conservation and Development (2009-2019). Da Nang Publishing House: 16-21 (in Vietnamese).
Vo Si Tuan, Hua Thai Tuyen, Nguyen Van Long, Phan Kim Hoang, Hoang Xuan Ben, Mai Xuan Dat. 2018. An assessment on the effectiveness of coral reef management by tourism sector in Nha Trang bay, Viet Nam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology Vol 18, No. 4A; 2018: 73–80 DOI: 10.15625/1859-3097/18/4A/13638
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