Dao Phu Quy Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Phu Quy island Province(s) Binh Thuan Area 18,980 ha Coordinates 10°30' - 10°39'N, 108°50' - 108°59'E Agro-ecological zone South-eastern Decreed by government No Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared No VCF eligibility criteria met None Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
Dao Phu Quy proposed marine protected area is centred on Phu Quy island, which lies in the East Sea, about 100 km to the east of Phan Thiet town. Administratively it is an offshore district of Binh Thuan province. Dao Phu Quy was proposed as a marine protected area by the Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography in 1995. In this proposal, the total area of the proposed marine protected area was not defined (Nguyen Huy Yet and Vo Si Tuan 1995). Dao Phu Quy was subsequently included on a list of 16 proposed marine protected areas compiled on behalf of the former MOSTE in 1998 (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998).
The proposal to establish a marine protected area at Dao Phu Quy was reiterated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB 1999) in their marine and coastal protected areas systems plan for Vietnam. In the ADB proposal, the area of the site was given as 18,980 ha, comprising a marine component of 16,680 ha and a terrestrial component of 2,300 ha.
Topography and hydrology
Phu Quy island is a volcanic crater, 2,300 ha in area, situated on the continental shelf. The highest point on the island is Mount Cam Dat at 106 m. The island is surrounded by a thick belt of coral, the deepest point of which is 42 m below sea level. The surrounding waters are strongly influenced by volcanic upwelling. To the north-west of Phu Quy island, and within the boundary of the marine protected area proposed by ADB (1999), are a number of submerged banks.
Biodiversity values
The biodiversity values of Dao Phu Quy proposed marine protected area have not been evaluated in detail. Preliminary surveys have, however, recorded 70 species of terrestrial plant, 72 species of seaweed, 134 species of hard coral and 15 species of mollusc. There are large areas of coral reef in the waters off Phu Quy island, which are dominated by Acropora spp. and Pocillopora spp. Off the western end of the island, there is a broad, flat reef, 600 m in width, which supports a fringing lagoon covered by vast seagrass beds (ADB 1999). In addition, there are reports of the globally vulnerable Dugong Dugong dugon being occasionally observed in the vicinity of seagrass beds at the proposed marine protected area (N. Cox in litt. 2003).
Conservation issues
ADB (1999) state that the marine ecosystem is still in a good condition because of a lack of negative impacts from industry, agriculture and destructive fishing techniques, although over-fishing is stated to be having an impact on marine resources. The human population density on Phu Quy island is relatively high, at over 600 people per square kilometre, as a result of which the terrestrial forest resources are vulnerable to over-exploitation.
In November 2000, Vietnam News (2000) reported that a project to develop an economic zone on Phu Quy island had been submitted to the prime minister for approval. This project reportedly aims to use a preferential tax policy to turn the island into a centre of economic growth. Development of this kind has the potential to increase pressure on the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the proposed marine protected area.
There is currently no organisation with management responsibility for the proposed marine protected area. The marine ecosystem is currently managed by Binh Thuan Provincial Fisheries Department, who have a fishery guard station on Phu Quy island, manned by four people (ADB 1999).
Other documented values
The waters off Phu Quy island are the most important fishing grounds in Binh Thuan province. The waters support a diversity of economically valuable marine products, including squid, snapper, grouper, tuna and sharks. The proposed marine protected area also has very high tourism potential, as it has scenic beauty, sandy beaches and good diving locations (ADB 1999).
Related projects
No information.
Conservation needs assessment
A conservation needs assessment has not been conducted for the site.
Operational management plan
An operational management plan has not been prepared for the site.
Eligibility against VCF criteria
The site is ineligible for VCF support because it is not a Special-use Forest.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
|
| BII |
|
| BIII |
|
| CI |
|
| CII |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
ADB (1999) Draft coastal and marine protected areas plan. Hanoi: Asian Development Bank.
Nguyen Chu Hoi, Nguyen Huy Yet and Dang Ngoc Thanh eds. (1998) [Scientific basis for marine protected areas planning]. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese.
Nguyen Huy Yet and Vo Si Tuan (1995) [Information on proposed marine protected areas on the coast of Vietnam]. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese.
Vietnam News (2000) Island opens economic door. Vietnam News 30 November 2000.
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