These days, the coastal sea area of Van Tuong commune, Dong Son is bustling with people harvesting seaweed. Only 1 month after harvesting, each family has an income of 50 to 70 million VND.
These seaweed carpets are also likened to the "incubator" of the ocean, a breeding ground for hundreds of seafood species and a close source of livelihood for generations of fishermen. Currently, Van Tuong and Dong Son communes own nearly 500 hectares of seaweed.
Mr. Nguyen Chi (78 years old) said that this year seaweed is in season and priced well, one kg of dried seaweed is purchased by traders for 7,000 VND. With a harvested output of more than 600 kg of fresh seaweed per day, each family harvests more than 150 kg of dried seaweed, selling for more than 1 million VND per day. However, the seaweed season only lasts about 1 month, after which old seaweed cannot be sold.
Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc - Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Dong Son commune, Quang Ngai province said that thanks to the Community Group's active propaganda, the awareness of people in complying with the time to exploit and protect seaweed has been clearly improved.
People all comply with keeping about 30% of seaweed reserves to serve natural resource regeneration. Training classes organized by the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations in coordination with Da Nang University of Education - University of Da Nang have helped people grasp scientific processes, create a basis for preserving local identity and towards sustainable community tourism models.
The seaweed season usually starts from April, but to protect seafood species that lay eggs and grow under the seaweed such as flying fish, giant fish, squid..., the agricultural sector of Quang Ngai province stipulates that people are only allowed to harvest from June 1st and must cut 10-25 cm away from the base.
Dr. Chu Manh Trinh - Lecturer at Da Nang University of Education, University of Da Nang said that seaweed forests play an important primary production organism, converting energy and CO2 into nutrients to feed the living layers, and regulating water sources.
The unique natural landscape of the seaweed beach is a priceless resource for the locality to develop community ecotourism, organize diving tours to see seaweed...
