A system of 'dead reef flat' is fixed deeply in water for growing coral. The system can be used as a stable table for coral growing through storms. - Photo courtesy of SaSa team
HANOI: Hanoian Le Chien and his team members from SaSa, a voluntary coral restoration group, have successfully revived damaged coral reefs spanning 100,000 square metres off Son Tra Peninsula since 2016, making it the first coral conservation initiative in Danang and the coastal central region.
Comprising volunteers from Hanoi, HCM City, and central regions, the team has worked to restore degraded coral reefs, driven by their shared love for the sea.
They have achieved three key goals: establishing an artificial coral restoration area, creating a nursery, and introducing a "dead reef flat" technique for sustainable coral conservation.
“The nursery may seem like a small dot in the ocean, but it holds the promise of reviving what was once a ‘Lost Heaven’ after decades of coral degradation,” Chien says.
According to him, the coral recovery area will become a safe habitat for thousands of marine species, including fish, lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges, and turtles, all of which depend on healthy reefs for survival.
“Coral species require 15 to 45 years to grow, and the average reproductive cycle is around 30 years. Therefore, it is crucial for human activities and fishing practices to be gentle,” he says.
The team has been planting fast-growing coral species to create a safe environment for marine life.
“One coral branch can grow 16 to 30 new branches, and within six months, thousands of new coral branches can flourish, providing saplings for the expansion of an underwater coral forest.”
Chien recalls how the team successfully revived a half-buried coral branch in the Bai Nam Reef, demonstrating the effectiveness of their restoration methods.
The team expanded their coral nursery from 6 to 100 square metres using the "dead reef flat" technique.
Resilient solutions
The method allows coral branches to grow on sturdy, weighted structures anchored to the seabed. This approach proved resilient, surviving a storm in Danang a few years ago.
The coral nursery, constructed from 100 heavy dead reef flat pieces, remains stable on the ocean floor.
Chien explains that scuba equipment isn’t effective for their work, so the team has to hold their breath while diving to secure the structures with thousands of screws underwater—a physically demanding task requiring great patience.
“To date, 32 coral species have been restored or cultivated through artificial methods in Bai Nam, Bai But and Sup reefs off Son Tra. We’ve also launched the ‘Feed the Ocean’ campaign to boost the reproduction of marine species like fish and crabs,” Chien says.
Vuong Thuy Hanh, a 41-year-old member of the team, says that the volunteers are united by a deep love for the sea and a commitment to conservation.
“We come from different parts of Vietnam, but share the same passion. We’ve spent nearly a decade studying coral restoration techniques, and the recovery of these reefs inspires us to keep going,” Hanh says.
Hanh, who works in finance in HCM City, explains that team members coordinate their schedules to work together in Son Tra during the summer months, before the storm season begins.
“It’s exhilarating to see coral branches thrive in rough seas and to witness various fish and shrimp species being born from our coral nurseries,” she says, adding that while damage from storms and heat waves can be disheartening, it motivates the team to work harder on disaster resilience.
Changing mindsets
The team hopes their efforts will raise awareness among communities and businesses about sustainable resource use and eco-friendly tourism.
They use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to document their work and spread the message about the importance of marine conservation.
Chien notes that irresponsible practices like electrofishing and illegal recreational diving continue to threaten restored coral areas.
Some free divers have intentionally trampled on newly grown coral, forcing the team to replant damaged sections.
According to a report by the Southern Institute of Ecology, coral reef coverage in Danang ranges from 8 to 45.9 per cent, a concerning figure attributed to pollution, overfishing, and unplanned development on Son Tra Peninsula.
Hanh says that while the SaSa team remains a volunteer group focused on coral restoration, they are exploring the possibility of expanding their efforts into a formal organisation with more regular activities beyond Danang, potentially across other coastal areas in Vietnam.
Chien says he believes that the nursery in Son Tra could serve as a marine education centre for students and young researchers, as well as a magnet for diving tourism.
He highlights that scuba diving meditation, used in Europe for mental therapy, could be introduced as part of a diving service alongside coral reefs in Danang. - Vietnam News/ANN
