The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will provide over 495,000 USD for extending a project to help develop the sea-based economy in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue .

The provincial People’s Committee on Feb. 4 said that the project is expected to help improve local people’s living conditions on the lagoon system through sustainable management of aquatic resources and environmental protection.

The extended project will cover over 22,000ha of water surface in the Tam Giang-Cau Hai system in five districts of the province. The area is the largest salt-march in Southeast Asia which possesses a plentiful ecosystem and is home to thousands of species of aquatic creatures.

At present, about 350,000 people are living on the interests from the lagoon.

In 2009, the province set up the 23.6 ha aquatic product protection area in Phu Vang district. So far, it has over 160 ha under five aquatic product protection areas in the Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon./.