Fisheries benefits from protecting corals : the case of the Nha Trang Bay marine protected area and Trao Reef marine reserve

Abstract

The value of a coral reef is one of the ways to indicate the success of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and protected resources. Khanh Hoa has two MPAs with the abundance coral reefs with status quite good and a developing fisheries industry. This paper will examine the link between fishery and coral reef using two models, essential fish habitat (EFH) model and facultative habitat (FH) model. The final goal is to estimate contribution of coral reef in a production function of fishery in Khanh Hoa. The empirical results indicate that the EFH model is better suited in this case than the FH model, so the value of coral reefs is estimated by using the EFH model. With 1 hectare (ha) coral reef, it can be produce for the fishery in harvest about 680 tones, with revenue of 885.001 USD. And benefit from protecting coral reefs after established MPA in Khanh Hoa region is achieved when the implementation of the MPAs has saved 73 ha of coral coverage, with to 243,315 tones of harvest over the period 2002-2008 and amounts benefit of nearly 275 million USD. However, the open access condition in which currently practice in Khanh Hoa is causing damage the coral reefs, and effect negative to the harvest when still increase the effort, thus management should used the policies to reduce the pressure on the coral reef and fishery sector.