Experts are worried that Cat Ba Island's maritime environment might be destroyed if 40 million cubic metres of dredged mud from a harbour project are dumped into the ocean.

 The tourism industry is being threatened

The Japanese ODA-Vietnamese matched-funded Lach Huyen Habour Project will require the dumping of.40 million cubic metres of dredged mud.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said if the south of Cat Ba Island is used as dumping site, the project’s costs could be reduced to JPY35 billion (USD431 million) and take 41 months, ensuring a rapid pace of construction.

However, scientists said if the company disposes mud into the ocean then the benthic zone will be severely affected and rare corals and seaweed might be destroyed. The mud could change the currents, waves and tides in the Hai Phong area. The local Maritime Administration reported that in January 2006, the Lach Huyen Stream was 7.2 metres deep but it reduced to 5.8 metres by July, 2011.

Moreover, the specialist said it is also a waste if the mud was thrown into the ocean when the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone is built nearby needed about 600 million cubic metres of material for levelling. The project could save half of the costs of ground clearance and levelling if the mud from Lach Huyen Habour was used.

Hai Phong authorities had earmarked the mud to go to Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Zone. The transfer of mud would be cheaper and offer a better dumping location. Meanwhile, JICA's plan to dispose mud into the ocean had little evidence of management since the contractors could irresponsibility dump mud wherever they wanted.

However on April 3, a Ministry of Transport document sent to Hai Phong authorities requested the city to send both options to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. It will assess the environmental impact and make a ruling. The city agreed to the proposal on April 5.

Cat Ba Island is recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. It contains a diversity of marine species including the rare and endangered Nageia evergreen and Smilax glabra shrub.

The island is home to many economic animals and plants. Over 30 fish and marine benthic species have brought huge profits for people living on Cat Ba via fishing and marine tourism. According to Cat Ba and Hai Phong City's development plan, the ocean must be preserved.

After hearing of the intended dumping locations, specialists said that the maritime environment will be affected by even the smallest amount of dumping. Ecology and animal resource expert Do Cong Thung said Cat Ba and surrounding places would be severely affected, and the island’s coral could reefs could become extinct.

40 million cubic metres of mud may be dumped near Cat Ba Island