Trao Reef
Trao Reef is one of a number of large coral reefs found in Khanh Hoa province. It is located in south-central Vietnam, just 60km north of one of the nation's popular tourist destinations, Nha Trang. With a total area of 400,000m2, Trao Reef sits at the heart of Van Phong bay, an area identified by the Vietnamese government as one of four major national coastal zones targeted for future development.
Trao Reef Marine Reserve
The Trao Reef Marine Reserve was established in 2001 and is the first marine reserve managed by a coastal community in Vietnam. The local people of the Van Hung commune (Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province) manage the marine reserve and work to protect Trao Reef's delicate ecosystem.
The reef is rich in marine flora and fauna, including abalone, sea cucumbers, sea horses and sea anemones. It shares about 215 species of hard coral and 100 species of coral reef fish with Van Phong bay.
Van Hung commune
Located along the coast of Van Phong bay, the Van Hung commune has a population of about 10,200 people (more than 2200 households). It is typical of coastal areas in Vietnam with about 70 per cent of households involved in coastal fisheries. However, aquatic resource levels are estimated to be less than 10 per cent compared to surveys conducted in the 1980s.
The area is also popular for the aquaculture of lobster and black tiger shrimp. But, left uncontrolled, aquaculture practices pollute the water, increase disease levels and also cause social conflict within communities.There is a critical need to support people of the Van Hung commune to find alternative livelihoods and contribute to their socio-economic development while also protecting and restoring the marine environment.