Quang Ninh (VNA) – The People’s Committee inHa Long City, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has announced that all kindsof fishing will be banned in Ha Long Bay’s natural reserve sites as of October1.

Only authority-approved fishing and diving activities fortourism using traditional tools will be allowed to continue.

When the decision comes into effect, violators will bestrictly punished in line with regulations, which include the seizing anddestroying of fishing equipment.

The move aims to boost the protection of local fisherysources, as well as the management and promotion of the UNESCO-recognised WorldHeritage Site.

Ha Long Bay, or “descending dragon bay”, spans 1,553sq.kmand includes 1,969 islands of various sizes. It was recognised as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000, and named one of the seven new naturalwonders of the world.

The bay features thousands of limestone caves and islets invarious shapes and sizes.

The limestone in the bay has gone through 500 million yearsof formation in different conditions and environments. The geo-diversity of theenvironment has created an impressive biodiversity, including a tropicalevergreen biosystem and an oceanic biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemicfloral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

The heritage site has become a magnet drawing visitors toQuang Ninh.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, on therecent National Day holiday from September 1 to 3, Quang Ninh welcomed 86,000tourists, including 19,000 foreigners, at an increase of 20 percent and 25percent year-on-year, respectively.

Also during the three days, 1,400 ships took more than30,000 tourists, including 12,000 foreigners, on sight-seeing tours around HaLong Bay.–VNA