A number of estuaries in the southern central province of Phu Yenare rapidly filling with sediment, greatly impacting the localenvironment and fishery resources.

The800-metre-wide Tan Quy estuary in An Hai commune has been almostcompletely blocked off while estuaries in Tien Chau in An Ninh Taycommune and Le Thinh in An Ninh Dong commune have shrunk to only 70metres and 40 metres in width.

The soil and sandsettlement at the Tan Quy estuary that leads to O Loan lagoon hasdeteriorated the habitat of aquatic species in the waters and hamperedthe travel of over 2,300 boats.

Meanwhile, thesediment at Le Thinh has affected the operation of nearly 1,000 boats.Low-tide water level is only 0.8 metres, preventing boats with60-horse-power engines to move, said Nguyen Tam, a resident in Le Thinhhamlet.

Facing such circumstances, the Phu Yenprovincial People’s Committee has requested Tuy An district authoritiesto implement three projects dredging 1.2 million cubic metres of soiland sand at the abovementioned estuaries, along with at the Tien Chaufishing port and Van Cui rivulet.

The committee alsoemphasised the importance of avoiding erosion while dredging sediment.The dredging in Tuy An district is expected to be finished within thisyear.-VNA