Project's information
| Project's title | Investigation of aquatic fauna diversity as a basis for conservation work on islands and caves in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, Quang Ninh province |
| Project’s code | UQĐTCB.05/23-25 |
| Research hosting institution | Institute of Biology |
| Project leader’s name | Le Hung Anh |
| Project duration | 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025 |
| Project’s budget | 1,497 million VND |
| Classify | Grade A |
| Goal and objectives of the project | Goals: |
| Main results | - Theoretical results A total of 565 aquatic species and species groups were recorded in the study area, belonging to 437 genera, 274 families, 86 orders, 21 classes, and 10 phyla. • Four endangered, rare, and valuable aquatic species of high conservation importance were identified, along with six endemic species. Three species new to science and two newly recorded for the aquatic fauna of Vietnam were discovered within the project area. • Sixteen fish species and seven benthic species of economic value were identified as potential resources for developing sustainable livelihoods for local communities. • It was determined that Bai Tu Long Bay has the highest conservation priority score, followed by Ha Long Bay and Tra Ban. Seven major impacting factors were identified, and two groups of conservation measures were proposed: (1) Institutional and law enforcement strengthening; (2) Development of conservation programs and sustainable economic initiatives.. - Applied results: • The project outcomes provide an important scientific foundation for the management and conservation of aquatic animal species in particular, and biodiversity in general, within the island systems of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. • The findings on the potential use of aquatic animal species provide a basis for future research aimed at the wise and sustainable utilization of biological resources, thereby supporting livelihoods and contributing to the development of a sustainable green economy in the region. |
| Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results | • This is the first comprehensive assessment of aquatic animal species diversity in the project area. Notably, three new species to science were described, and two species were newly recorded for Vietnam. • The project identified the potential of endangered, rare, and endemic aquatic animal species with specialized habitat requirements to serve as indicators for biodiversity monitoring. • The project also identified key factors affecting aquatic animals at surveyed sites and provided specific recommendations for conservation actions. |
| Products of the project | - Scientific papers in referred journals (list): Journals in the SCIE category 1. Anh, L. H., Dong, D. V., & Tu, D. V. (2024). First record of the genus Chinapotamon Dai & Naiyanetr, 1994 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) from northern Vietnam with description of one new species. Zootaxa, 5424(5), 501–519. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5424.5.1 2. Anh, L. H., von Rintelen, T., Pham, T. Y., & Tu, D. V. (2025). A new freshwater shrimp species of the genus Caridina (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae) from Quang Ninh province, Northeast Vietnam. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 101(4), 1601–1611. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.155668 3. Tran, T. T., Hoang, C. V., Luong, A. M., Nguyen, T. Q., Ziegler, T., & Pham, C. T. (2023). Integrative taxonomic analyses reveal first country records of Occidozyga shiwandashanensis Chen, Peng, Liu, Huang, Liao & Mo, 2022 and Hylarana latouchii (Boulenger, 1899) (Anura, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae) from Vietnam. Biodiversity Data Journal, 11, e109726. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e109726 4. Tang, Q., John, A., Wardiatno, Y., Nishida, S., Xie, X., Pati, S., ... & Rheindt, F. E. (2025). Evolution and viability of Asian horseshoe crabs appear tightly linked to geo-climatic dynamics in the Sunda Shelf. Conservation Letters, 18(1), e13074. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13074 National journal (VAST 2) 5. Le, H. A., & Tran, D. L. (2025). Dryadillo longiantenna sp. nov., a new species of cave-dwelling terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea, Armadillidae) from a karstic island in Quang Ninh province, North Vietnam. Academia Journal of Biology, 47(2), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9023/21558 Other National journal 6. Le, H. A., Nguyen, D. T., & Hoang, A. T. (2025). Fish species composition in freshwater bodies and karst lagoons on the islands of Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 168–177. - Patents (list): No - Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place): • One dataset of aquatic-associated animal species (distribution locations: caves, streams, pools, lagoons, and karst sinkholes) on soil and limestone islands, including identification characteristics and the scientific, conservation, and utilization values of 61 species. Place: Institute of Biology. • One collection of photographic and descriptive materials on species of conservation importance, including images and descriptions of characteristic habitats and living conditions, as well as mapped landscapes and distribution sites. Place: Institute of Biology. • One compilation of scientific and ecological information describing the habitat characteristics and the state–pressure–response–benefit framework for this species group, serving as a basis for biodiversity monitoring criteria on the islands. Place: Institute of Biology. Other products (if applicable): Training of one Master’s degree student under the project. |
| Research area | Local management agencies can use the project’s results to support planning, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable use of biological resources, including: |
| Recommendations | It is recommended to prepare dossiers proposing that several endangered, rare, and valuable aquatic animal species be included in the updated Vietnam Red Data Book/Vietnam Red List, as well as in the List of Protected Species issued under Circular No. 27/2025/TT-BNNMT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. |
| Images of project |  |
