Untreated industrial waste polluting Nha Trang Bay
Waste from nearby fisheries and seafood processing facilities are destroying Nha Trang Bay, said delegates at a meeting Wednesday December 19. At the Khanh Hoa Province People's Council meeting, the Department of Legal Affairs reported that the bay was in danger of overwhelming pollution.
The department blamed the filth on tourists, fishing ships, fish breeders and industrial and agricultural processors.
Approximately 7,000 seafood cultivation rafts were polluting the environment while 5,000 people living on boats in the area throw ten tonnes of household garbage into the bay every day, according to the department.
Additionally, the Cai and Tac rivers often carry waste from industry, agriculture, seafood processors and residential areas into Nha Trang Bay.
The pollution has damaged Nha Trang Bay's ecosystem and maritime environment, including its many corals.
A province official said that the under-construction Bac Hon Ong seafood processing zone might worsen marine pollution in the bay if local authorities did not improve waste management and reign in the polluters.
The Khanh Hoa Aquiculture Department said that the project's investor was drafting an environmental assessment report.
The department added that only when the zone's waste was treated to "Standard A" would it be allowed to dump into the Tac River, which flows into the bay.
At least one delegate proposed moving the zone to surrounding areas such as Van Ninh District or Cam Ranh Town, about 50-60 kilometres from Nha Trang City.
However, the department said the idea was not feasible because the necessary human resources and material trade areas were in Nha Trang City.
Nha Trang Bay is one of the most important tourism hubs in central Vietnam.
Thanh Nien - December 22, 2007.
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