A workshop on conducting research and assessing the self-treatment ability of organic matter and carbon sourced from the mainland, and the socio-economic values of the Da Nang Bay, took place in Da Nang on Tuesday.

The event was jointly organised by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), and the British Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).

Speaking at the event, architect Bui Huy Tri, the Head of the Management Office for Urban Planning and Development at the city’s Department of Construction, highlighted the important role of the Da Nang Bay in marine transportation, and ensuring local security and defence.

He added since 2000 Da Nang has been paying special attention on developing urban areas along the bay with a focus on the construction of the Lien Chieu-Thuan Phuoc seaside route, currently known as Nguyen Tat Thanh Street). However, unlike seaside urban areas in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts, the urban areas along the bay have been frequently affected by natural disasters.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Nguyen Hong An remarked, under the negative impacts of climate change and the ongoing urbanisation process, the Da Nang Bay in particular, and local beaches in general, were facing a natural resources crisis. Included were a remarkable depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution, and conflicts over the use of marine resources and space.

Mr An noted PEMSEA and PML are lending a helping hand to Da Nang to conduct research and evaluate the self-treatment ability of organic matter and carbon sourced from the mainland and the socio-economic values of the Da Nang Bay.

The purpose is to find scientific evidence about the dynamics process, resources and the role of the Da Nang Bay in bolstering the development of the city's marine economy, as well as managing and using marine resources and space.

Professor Steve Widdicombe, who leads the PML strategic science area Marine ecology and biodiversity, said that according to the research plan, from July to December 2021, his agency would report about marine ecosystems, and make evaluation about the socio-economic values of the Da Nang Bay.