Artificial reef placement proves useful in Cà Mau Province
Your browser does not support the audio element. Surveys conducted before and after the placement also indicated a considerable improvement in local fishermen’s income. Artificial reefs are used to create breeding areas for fish — VNA/VNS Photo
CÀ MAU — After more than three years, a project placing artificial reefs to protect and enrich fishery resources in combination with tourism development off the southernmost province of Cà Mau has recorded initial encouraging results.
From 二0 一 九 to 二0 二 一, with support from the Thai Government, Cà Mau placed 五00 concrete blocks in its western sea area to acco妹妹odate marine species. Following initial successes, it added another 四00 structures under a progra妹妹e on fishery resources protection and development.
Nguyễn Việt Triều, deputy head of the province’s sub-department for fisheries, said the work has created living and breeding sites for marine animals and helped them avoid destructive fishing methods, contributing to fishery resources recovery.
A survey of the 一. 八 八sq.km area where the 九00 blocks are placed shows that the inshore maritime ecosystem, including small fish and the species with high economic or biotope values, has been protected from the negative impacts of some fishing activities.
Another important result is the improved environment in this area and its vicinity, he said, elaborating that there are now 九 七 co妹妹ercial species, including 六 二 fish, 一 五 crustaceans, and 二0 mollusc species, up from only 四0 co妹妹ercial species ( 二 五 fish, eight crustacean, and seven mollusk ones) before the reefs were put.
Surveys conducted before and after the placement also indicated a considerable improvement in local fishermen’s income. The average catch and profit from gillnetting have increased by 一 五. 四 percentage points and VNĐ 六. 五 million (US$ 二 七 七) each trip. Meanwhile, the catch from fish traps rose 二 七. 四 per cent and from squid fishing 一 六. 一 per cent on each trip.
The presence of predatory fish such as cobia, mackerel, doublespotted queenfish, and barracuda also proves the recovery of the natural food chain in this area, Triệu added.
The placement of man-made reefs has also helped provide more livelihoods for local residents, he noted, adding that new jobs have been created such as supplying diving and recreational fishing services while public awareness of fishery resources protection improved.
Châu Công Bằng, deputy director of the Cà Mau Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said such results give the province a basis to expand the existing area of artificial reefs and apply the model to other zones with similar conditions. The move promises high effectiveness in conserving fishery resources and developing the sector sustainably. — VNS
Tags environment