Through co-management initiatives in Ganh Yen and Hon Coc, local communities are directly involved in protecting fisheries resources, laying the foundation for sustainable livelihoods.
The Quang Ngai Union of Science and Technology Associations recently coordinated with relevant agencies and local authorities to hold a consultation workshop on regulations for the management, maintenance, operation and protection of the buoy system marking designated zones for the conservation of fisheries resources and marine ecosystems in Ganh Yen and Hon Coc, Van Tuong Commune.
The Ganh Yen Community Management Group has been established to manage 218 hectares of coastal waters. Photo: T.T.The activity is part of the project “Conservation, Sustainable Harvesting and Development of Sargassum Seaweed in the Coastal Communes of Van Tuong and Dong Son, Linked to Sustainable Community Livelihoods,” funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
At the workshop, a representative of the Van Tuong Commune People's Committee announced the decision to officially recognize and grant co-management rights to community groups responsible for protecting fisheries resources, Sargassum seaweed and coastal ecosystems.
Under the decision, the Ganh Yen Community Management Group has been granted co-management rights over 218 hectares of coastal waters adjacent to Phuoc Thien, Le Thuy, Thanh Thuy and An Cuong villages. Meanwhile, the Hon Coc Community Management Group has been assigned 72 hectares of coastal waters in Tuyet Diem Village.
The delegation of co-management rights enables local residents to participate directly in protecting marine resources while strengthening community responsibility for the sustainable harvesting and use of natural resources.
Residents of Van Tuong Commune harvest Sargassum seaweed during the appropriate season, generating additional income while maintaining favorable habitats for marine species to shelter and reproduce, thereby contributing to the protection of marine resources and ecosystems. Photo: L.K.At the workshop, the Ganh Yen and Hon Coc community groups also adopted regulations on the management, maintenance, operation and protection of the buoy systems marking conservation zones. They also sought feedback from relevant authorities and local residents to refine the regulations and ensure their suitability for local conditions.
The project installed buoys and rope barriers in the coastal waters of Ganh Yen and Hon Coc to designate protected areas for Sargassum seaweed beds and fisheries resources. The system helps clearly identify conservation zones, raise public awareness of sustainable fishing practices and minimize adverse impacts on coastal ecosystems.
Beyond biodiversity conservation, the project also focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods and increasing incomes for coastal communities by linking marine resource protection with environmentally friendly tourism development. Local residents play a central role in managing and operating these initiatives while directly benefiting from development activities in their communities.
According to Van Tuong Commune authorities, the project creates opportunities to harness the value of coastal landscapes and marine ecosystems for tourism development, helping strengthen the appeal and recognition of Ganh Yen and Hon Coc as tourist destinations. This approach also seeks to balance economic benefits with environmental protection, particularly as the locality expands tourism alongside coastal industrial development.
Through community-based co-management and the installation of buoy systems marking conservation zones, local authorities expect to strengthen the protection of Sargassum seaweed beds and fisheries resources, laying the foundation for sustainable coastal livelihoods based on the responsible use of natural resources.