Hon Me Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Hon Me archipelago Province(s) Thanh Hoa Area 6,700 ha Coordinates 19°19' - 19°23'N, 105°51' - 105°57'E Agro-ecological zone North Central Coast 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
Hon Me was included on a list of 16 proposed marine protected areas compiled on behalf of the former MOSTE (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998). The area of the proposed marine protected area given in this proposal was approximately 5,600 ha. This proposal has yet to be approved by the government of Vietnam (ADB 1999).
The proposal to establish a marine protected area at Hon Me 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 (referred to as Hon Me archipelago) is given as 6,700 ha, comprising a marine component of 6,200 ha and a terrestrial component of 500 ha. In this proposal, the proposed marine protected area includes Hon Me Nature Reserve, which was decreed by the government of Vietnam in 1986 (see Hon Me Nature Reserve site card).
Topography and hydrology
Hon Me proposed marine protected area consists of Hon Me archipelago and the surrounding marine areas. The archipelago consists of nine sizeable islands and several small islets, of which the largest, at 420 ha, is Hon Me island. The highest point in the proposed marine protected area is 256 m on Hon Me island while the deepest point is 28 m below sea level in the marine component. The average depth of the marine component is 13 m.
Biodiversity values
Hon Me proposed marine protected area supports a high diversity of terrestrial and marine habitats. There are a wide variety of marine habitats distributed around the islands, including coral reefs, submerged banks, rocky beds, sandy substrates and gravel grounds. Coral reefs are distributed over a large area of the site but coral cover is low, averaging less than 30%. This indicates that the reefs are being seriously degraded by human activities (ADB 1999).
A survey of the proposed marine protected area was carried out in October 1998 by Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. This survey, which focused on marine organisms, recorded 141 zoobenthic species, 133 phytoplankton species, 56 coral species (mostly scleractinians), 55 coral reef fish species (including 11 species new for Vietnam), and 46 zooplankton species (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998, ADB 1999).
Conservation issues
The main threats to the biological integrity of the marine component of the site come from over-exploitation of marine resources and unsuitable fishing methods. Fishing with poison, dynamite, or fine-mesh nets is contributing to a decline in aquatic resources. Zoobenthic species are abundant at the proposed marine protected area but are being depleted by over-exploitation. This is especially true of crabs, lobsters, other shellfish and sea cucumbers (ADB 1999).
During the rainy season, sediment loads of streams and rivers flowing into the site from the mainland are high. The consequent siltation of reefs is leading to their slow decline. Additionally, the high density of suspended particles in the water reduces light penetration and affects primary productivity, which has consequences for the rest of the food chain.
Other documented values
The Hon Me archipelago is an important fishing ground in the Gulf of Tonkin, and supports the livelihoods of communities in Tinh Gia district, Thanh Hoa province, as well as commercial fishing enterprises. A number of fish of high economic value occur in the area, such as members of the Pomacantridae and Holocentridae (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.
Thanh Hoa Provincial FPD (2000) [FPD questionnaire]. Thanh Hoa: Thanh Hoa Provincial Forest Protection Department. In Vietnamese.
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