Bach Long Vi
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Bach Long Vi is a Vietnamese island in the Gulf of Tonkin, about halfway between Haiphong and Hainan Island (China). Administratively, it is an offshore district of Haiphong City. Bach Long Vi means "tail of the white dragon", a name the comes from a Vietnamese legend regarding the origins of Halong Bay. Fishing comprises the majority of economic activity in the Gulf of Tonkin, and Bach Long Vi is a major nursery and harvesting area for fish eggs. More than 50 species of commercial fish are abundant in the area (ADB 1999).
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[edit] Geography
Bach Long Vi sits 58 meters above sea level, and is a plateau. There are no other significant exposed land masses within 75 km of the island.
[edit] Wildlife and Biodiversity
The island is home to several species of migratory birds, including storks, turtle doves, drongos and swamphens. Local Vietnamese authorities have programs in place to protect these birds during their migratory season.
In 1995, the Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography surveyed the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Bach Long Vi. The survey recorded 126 terrestrial plant species and 17 mangrove species. In the marine ecosystem, the survey recorded 95 species of coral and 460 species of fish.
[edit] Conservation Issues
Due to its distance from the mainland, Bach Long Vi is used as a base for offshore fishing. The marine resources in the immediate vicinity of the island are subject to over-harvesting and destructive fishing practices.
[edit] References
- Draft coastal and marine protected area plan. Hanoi: Asian Development Bank. (1999)
- Nguyen Chu Hoi, Nguyen Huy Yet and Dang Ngoc Thanh eds. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese. (1998)
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