Green Sea Turtle Recorded in Dambay Waters of Nha Trang Bay: An Encouraging Sign for Marine Biodiversity Conservation

During marine biodiversity research and monitoring at Dambay Marine Research Station in Nha Trang Bay (Khanh Hoa Province), scientists from the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center (hereinafter referred to as the Tropical Center) recorded a healthy green sea turtle, historically also known as the soup turtle, in Dambay waters: Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). This observation is of considerable scientific interest and conservation significance. Marine turtles have long life cycles, use a range of marine and coastal habitats, and are increasingly affected by habitat degradation, bycatch and other fishing-related pressures, marine pollution, and climate change. The record of a green sea turtle in Dambay waters therefore adds to current knowledge of biodiversity in Nha Trang's coastal zone and may be regarded as an encouraging sign of the ecological condition of the local marine ecosystem.

Figure 1. Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), recorded in Dambay waters of Nha Trang Bay on September 9, 2026. Photo by K. Yu. Samoilov and Tran Duc Dien.

At Dambay Marine Research Station, the Tropical Center conducts research on establishing coral nurseries and restoring coral reefs, progressively developing and rehabilitating benthic habitats. The growth of coral colonies and recovery of the reef's three-dimensional structure increase the availability of habitats, feeding grounds, and breeding sites for various groups of marine organisms, including fish and invertebrates, among them species of conservation concern. A coral reef is not merely a collection of individual coral colonies; it is a complex ecosystem sustained by numerous trophic, symbiotic, and spatial interactions that support biodiversity and the stability of the marine environment. In this context, the sighting of a green sea turtle is particularly significant and indicates that protected and restored habitats may provide favorable conditions for a diverse range of marine fauna.

The record of a green sea turtle in Dambay waters is a positive, although not in itself conclusive, indicator of ecosystem condition. It highlights the practical importance of consistent, science-based measures to protect and restore marine ecosystems. The cultivation of coral fragments, recovery of reef structure, and repeated observations of characteristic species are interconnected elements of long-term efforts to improve the resilience of the marine environment. Research by the Tropical Center is directed not only toward detecting and recording species in their natural habitats, but also toward improving understanding of ecosystem functioning and establishing a scientific basis for ecosystem protection and restoration. Such work is essential to preserving the unique natural values of Nha Trang Bay for present and future generations. Dambay Marine Research Station is not only a site for marine research, but also a base for practical ecosystem restoration and for linking scientific research with conservation action.

Figure 2. Coral reef restoration activities in Dambay waters of Nha Trang Bay. Photo by Tran Duc Dien and K. Yu. Samoilov.

The findings underscore the need for continued close cooperation with the Nha Trang Bay Management Board to strengthen the protection of marine habitats of high biodiversity conservation value in the Dambay area, particularly coral reefs and the waters adjacent to Dambay Marine Research Station. Patrols, ecological monitoring, and enforcement against activities capable of damaging coral reefs and other aquatic organisms should be coordinated. The harvesting of aquatic biological resources, fishing, and vessel anchoring should be restricted at sites where these activities may disturb or destroy habitats. Cooperation with scientific organizations should also be expanded to support observation, documentation of sightings, and the development of a database on marine turtles in Nha Trang Bay. Records of the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), as well as records of other marine turtle species, are valuable for biodiversity monitoring and can provide a basis for the timely development of targeted species conservation and marine natural resource management measures. Protecting even a single marine turtle begins with safeguarding the waters and habitats in which it was recorded. Close coordination among management authorities, scientific institutions, and the public will provide a sound foundation for conserving the natural values of Nha Trang Bay. In view of the area's documented biodiversity and scientific potential, consideration should be given to developing Dambay Marine Research Station into a focal site for biodiversity conservation and a permanent base for long-term scientific research, ecological monitoring, environmental education, and practical marine ecosystem conservation activities.