Truong Sa Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Spratly archipelago, Truong Sa archipelago Province(s) Khanh Hoa Area 160,000 ha Coordinates 7°25' - 11°45'N, 111°00' - 116°00'E Agro-ecological zone South 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
In 1998, Truong Sa was included on a list of 16 proposed marine protected areas prepared on behalf of the former MOSTE. In this proposal, the area of Truong Sa proposed marine protected area was given as 160,000 ha. The site is currently under the management of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998).
Topography and hydrology
Truong Sa proposed marine protected area is centred on the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, a large archipelago of islands and reefs, situated in the East Sea, about 450 km south-east of Nha Trang city. The highest point in the archipelago is 6 m above sea level, while the surrounding marine waters reach depths of up to 3,000 m.
Biodiversity values
Truong Sa proposed marine protected area supports a high diversity and abundance of coral reefs. For example, a coral survey undertaken in 1996 around Thuyen Chai, one of the larger islands, documented 201 species of reef-building coral. The coral reef at Thuyen Chai island is large in size and diverse in morphology (Nguyen Huy Yet 1997).
The waters of Truong Sa proposed marine protected area are a breeding ground for a wide variety of marine organisms, including marine mammals, and the islands are nesting sites for a range of birds and sea turtles (McManus 1994). According to Nguyen Quang Phach (1994), a number of seabirds that are rare elsewhere in Vietnam can be found at Truong Sa marine protected area, including Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, Red-footed Booby S. sula, Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii and White Tern Gygis alba.
Conservation issues
The major threats to biodiversity at Truong Sa proposed marine protected area are over-exploitation of marine resources, pollution, and disturbance to seabird colonies and turtle nesting beaches (McManus 1994).
Other documented values
The waters of the Truong Sa archipelago have great economic importance for offshore fisheries. The waters may be one of the most important stocking grounds for fish and other marine organisms in the East Sea, and may have increasing importance as stocks in other areas decrease as a result of over-exploitation.
Related projects
A number of scientific research projects have been conducted in the Truong Sa archipelago over the last 25 years, as part of the National Marine Programme of Vietnam. These projects were implemented by various research institutes of the National Centre for Natural Science and Technology, with funding from the government of Vietnam (Nguyen Cu verbally 2000).
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
Cao Van Sung and Pham Duc Tien (2000) The murids in Truong Sa archipelagos. Tap Chi Sinh Hoc [Journal of Biology] 22(15)CD: 151-153. In Vietnamese.
Le Duy Bach and Ngo Gia Thang (1999) Tectonics of Truong Sa archipelagos massive. Pp 650-656 in Anon. ed. [Proceedings of the fourth national conference on marine science and technology, volume II]. Hanoi: Statistical Publishing House. In Vietnamese.
McManus, J. W. (1994) The Spratly islands: a marine park?. Ambio 23(3): 181-186.
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 (1997) [Species composition of Scleractinian corals and morphology of the coral reef of Thuyen Chai island (Spratly archipelago)] In: Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography [Collection of scientific studies, volume IV: marine resources and environment]. Hanoi: Science and Technology Publishing House. In Vietnamese.
Nguyen Khac Khoi and Vu Xuan Phuong (1995) Results of research into the plants on the islands of Truong Sa Lon and Nam Yet. Pp 78-84 in: Dang Huy Huynh, Nguyen Tien Ban, Vu Quang Con, Nguyen Thi Le, Pham Van Luc, Tran Dinh Ly, La Dinh Moi and Cao Van Sung eds. [Results of research by IEBR] Hanoi: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources. In Vietnamese.
Nguyen Quang Phach (1994) [Seabirds]. Pp 222-230 in Anon. ed. [Monograph on the marine environment of Vietnam, volume IV: biological resources and marine ecosystems] Hanoi: National Centre for Natural Science and Technology. In Vietnamese.
Nguyen Van Bach, Nguyen Tien Hai, Nguyen Phuc and Tran Thi Thu Huong (1999) Mineral chalcedony within coral clastic rocks in Truong Sa sea area. Pp 657-663 in Anon. ed. [Proceedings of the fourth national conference on marine science and technology, volume II]. Hanoi: Statistical Publishing House. In Vietnamese.
Ta Huy Thinh, Pham Van Luc and Hoang Vu Tru (1995) Preliminary results of study on the cockroach control (Periplaneta americana) in Truong Sa islands. Pp 522-527 in: Dang Huy Huynh, Nguyen Tien Ban, Vu Quang Con, Nguyen Thi Le, Pham Van Luc, Tran Dinh Ly, La Dinh Moi and Cao Van Sung eds. [Results of research by IEBR] Hanoi: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources. In Vietnamese.
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