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Abstract
A survey has been conducted to assess management status of Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) after more than 15 years of establishment in order to propose solutions for management. The research was done by RRA method, semi-structured questionnaire with 92 questionaries, and with SWOT analysis. The results showed that the area of the MPA was added 89,65 km and zoned functionally. Water environment quality is not serious. Only mangrove forest has increased in the area; sea grass beds and corals decreased. Alternative occupations is not applied any more by the farmers’ households. Many propagation education programs used to be conducted but not any more now. The number of tourists to Hon Mun increased rapidly between 2016 and 2017. The MPA has implemented sustainable financing mechanism based on the entrance fee income. The majority of households engaged in fishing (86%); aquaculture 9%, other occupations 5%. Push net fishing impacts highly on fishery resources accounted for the highest percentage (39%). The main fishing zone is coastal one (96%). There are 134 rafts engaged in aquaculture with 3,729 culture cages.
Key words: management, marine protected area, Nha Trang Bay, solutions, status