The central province plans to create a 7,900ha sea reserve off the coast of Ly Son island and Binh Chau commune before awarding it Global Geopark status.

Illustration photo. Source: VNA

Nguyen Dang Vu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the conservation measures are the first step in a plan to establish a larger sea reserve in the region. He said the province has allocated 36.4 billion VND (1.7 million USD) to complete the project between 2016 and 2020.

Vu said the department has been compiling scientific data and documents to cement the area's status as a national and Global Geopark.

Two years ago, two trading vessels that were used about 700 years ago were discovered off the coast of Binh Chau in Binh Son district.

Ceramic and stone artefacts from an old shipwreck were also discovered during a deep water excavation near the islet of An Binh, located 3km from Ly Son island.

Archaeologists believe the ceramic pieces date back to the 15^th century, while the stone fragments are thought to come from the Champa Kingdom in the 13^th century.

The Doan Anh Duong Company, which was assigned by the Quang Ngai authorities to survey the area, also discovered a large coral reef complex and stone arch in the water.

Doan Sung, Director of Doan Anh Duong Company, said a 50sq.km area of coral reefs in Ly Son and Binh Chau can be developed as an eco-tourism and scuba diving site.

As scheduled, the province will host a conference to evaluate the regional waters and surrounding rocks and coral reefs later this year.

(Source: VNA)