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Hoang Van Thuc, deputy director general of the VEA, said at a meeting on Thursday that the administration’s environmental monitoring center collected samples of water and sediment off the coast of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien – Hue Provinces last month. These four provinces were the areas most affected by the mass fish deaths in April last year caused by wastewater discharged from a steel plant in Ha Tinh operated by Taiwanese plastics group Formosa.
The collected samples were taken from different depths in areas 12 kilometers from the shoreline, Thuc said. “Test results showed that water and sediment from the monitored areas meet environmental standards for entertainment, sports, tourism, and aquaculture,” Thuc said. “According to these results, we can say that the sea in central Vietnam is now safe as far as the water environment and seabed sediment are concerned.” According to Thuc, provincial monitoring centers will be responsible for maintaining monitoring activities over the central waters.
“Since the beginning of this year, fishermen in these four central provinces have resumed their fishing routines and tourist activities have returned to normal,” Thuc said. “Fish and squid caught in areas near Vung Ang now sell for nearly the same price as prior to the environmental incident.” Droves of dead fish startedmysteriously washing ashorein central Vietnam in April 2016.
Two months later, the Vietnamese steel business of Taiwan-based conglomerate Formosatook responsibilityfor the disaster, pledging to pay US$500 million in compensation. Extensive measures have since been taken by Vietnamese authorities to ensure the steel plant adheres to environmental regulations while supporting those affected by the crisis in regaining their livelihoods.
Formosa’s compensation is expected to be completely paid out to the disaster-stricken areas by the end of this month, according to directives from the government of Vietnam.
Source: tuoitrenews
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