Due to the impact of storm No. 3 (Yagi) and the flood after the storm, a large amount of waste was brought from coastal areas of Ha Long Bay and aquaculture cages in coastal localities, causing a large amount of waste in Ha Long Bay. These types of waste include: Styrofoam buoys, broken cages, trees, branches and leaves from coastal areas, rocky islands in Ha Long Bay..., causing waste to float on the sea surface, affecting the landscape, environment, reception activities, and services for visitors to Ha Long Bay.
According to Mr. Vu Kien Cuong - Head of Ha Long Bay Management - this "crisis" of garbage in Ha Long Bay is different from the previous time because there are many types of garbage from many sources, so the collection is very difficult. The largest concentration of garbage is in the mangrove forest area of Dai Yen, Tuan Chau, the coastal road from Bai Tho bridge to Ha Phong ward, Ha Long city; at tourist attractions, the foot of the island, sandbanks, hidden coves... in the middle of Ha Long Bay.
According to Mr. Cuong, garbage is even stuck on rocky mountains at a height of over 2 meters due to waves and storm winds.
Therefore, garbage collection is even more difficult because it is not possible to use vehicles or machines, but must be collected manually.
However, according to Mr. Cuong, right after the storm, the Ha Long Bay Management Board coordinated with functional forces, agencies and units in Quang Ninh province to continuously organize garbage collection campaigns. In particular, priority was given to collecting garbage at tourist attractions to serve tourism.
Ha Long Bay Management Board has strengthened environmental monitoring in the above areas and along the shore of Ha Long Bay every day, promptly detecting areas where garbage, bamboo rafts, and foam buoys are concentrated in sandy areas, along the coast, tidal areas, and mangrove forests to inform relevant localities and functional forces for collection and treatment.
After the peak period of garbage collection and cleaning of Ha Long Bay, tourist attractions on Ha Long Bay have been cleaned and sanitized to ensure welcoming tourists. Large amounts of garbage floating in the waters, at the foot of the islands at the routes and tourist attractions have been collected and treated.
However, the amount of garbage in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay is still very large. In some coastal areas of Ha Long Bay, there are still bamboo rafts and foam buoys washed ashore by the waves. Although the authorities are still mobilizing forces to collect and clean up, due to the large amount of waste generated, the authorities have not yet completed the collection, so there is still waste that has the potential to spread to the Ha Long Bay Heritage area.
Regarding solutions in the coming time, the Ha Long Bay Management Board will continue to increase human resources, equipment, and means to collect waste generated by the impact of storm No. 3 as well as other types of waste in Ha Long Bay to clean up waste at tourist attractions and the entire Heritage area. At the same time, it is recommended that the localities of Ha Long, Cam Pha, Quang Yen, and Van Don continue to increase activities to collect waste, foam buoys, and aquaculture rafts, especially in coastal areas, water surfaces, and foothills under local management, to prevent the spread of waste that affects the landscape and environment of Ha Long Bay Heritage.
