Dao Tran Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Tran island Province(s) Quang Ninh Area 4,200 ha Coordinates 21°12' - 21°16'N, 107°56' - 108°00'E Agro-ecological zone North-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 Tran was included on a list of 16 proposed marine protected areas compiled on behalf of the former MOSTE. A precise area for the proposed marine protected area was not given in this proposal (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998). The proposal has yet to be approved by the government of Vietnam (ADB 1999).
The proposal to establish a marine protected area at Dao Tran 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 4,200 ha, comprising a marine component of 3,900 ha and a terrestrial component of 300 ha.
Topography and hydrology
Dao Tran proposed marine protected area is centred on Tran island, a small island, 300 ha in area, which lies about 30 km off the coast of Quang Ninh province. The highest point on the island is 188 m and deepest point in the surrounding waters is around 10 m. The topography of the island is characterised by mountains in the south falling away to lower elevations in the north. The coastline of the island consists of a combination of sandy beaches and rocky littoral coast. There are coral reefs in the marine waters off the island.
Biodiversity values
The principal reason for proposing the establishment of a marine protected area at Dao Tran is to protect the coral reef and seagrass ecosystems around Tran island. A total of 41 hard coral species have been recorded in the coral reefs, which are distributed in a patch-reef form around the island. The seagrass flora is dominated by Halophila ovalis and Cymodocea rotunda. There is little information available about the terrestrial biodiversity of Tran island.
Conservation issues
The major threats to biodiversity at Dao Tran proposed marine protected area are over-exploitation of marine products, destructive fishing methods, including dynamite fishing, and timber extraction from forests on the island. The site is not currently under conservation management.
Other documented values
The waters off Tran island are an important nursery area for the fishery of the north-eastern coastal zone of Vietnam.
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.
Click here to download pdf file
