Six fishermen in Ninh Thuan who volunteered to protect 300ms of coral reef say they couldn’t stand by and watch the coral and many sea species being threatened.

Tran Van Nhon, 45, said the fishing village of My Hiep in Ninh Hai District is famous for its Hon Do coral beach, estimated to have more than 330 coral species, but it has been heavily exploited by locals.

“It breaks my heart seeing people wreck the reef,” said 67-year-old Pham Dua, another member of the reef protection team. “They used to use explosives to break up the coral to sell to cement factories,” he said.

The team was formed at the end of 2003, right after the International Coral Reef Action Network project was launched in Ninh Thuan Province. The project aims to build awareness of the importance of coral reefs and build community-based conservation action around the world.

“After scientists explained to me why different species of marine animals had left the area, I signed up to be a guard to protect the coral,” Dua said.

Team leader Diep Nghia Hung said at first some villagers didn’t like being prevented from exploiting the coral and they burnt down the team’s sentry box.

But now everyone in his village understands that stable fisheries depend on the reef and they must protect it together, Hung said.

The local government said the team has proven really effective, adding that the future of the coral reef has been ensured so the livelihood of the village can be maintained.

Nguyen Khac Hoa, chairman of Thanh Hai Commune, said thanks to the coral protection, the number of lobsters that the village can catch annually has grown to around 42,000, compared to only 10,000 before 2003.

Hoa noted that each member of the guard team is given a monthly allowance of only VND300,000 (US$17), “and sometimes they are paid at six month intervals.”

VietNamNet/Thanh Nien