Community based coastal resources management behind changes in surface water environment and land policy: A case study in the Tam Giang Lagoon, Central Vietnam

Abstract. This paper attempts to examine the changes in surface water environment and community based coastal resources management activities in the Tam Giang Lagoon, Central Vietnam. The results show that the lagoon’s surface water has been polluted. BOD５, COD and nutrient concentration have increased in the lagoon’s surface water environment. It proved that there was a present of organic substances. Due to the globalization of seafood products and changes in lagoon’s water quality by aquaculture development; the local government has issued many regulations to manage lagoon’s resources. Among those policies, the establishment of fisheries association and/or self-management team is considered as appropriate solution to develop aquaculture and capture aquatic resources in the lagoon. However, the benefit and power of the resource users have not been stipulated for both fisheries association and self-management team. Instead of this, it is only member’s responsibilities and duties in using lagoon’s water surface areas. As a result, most of resource users in the study area have not participated in these organizations as their members. The resource user must do all activities in relation to aquaculture by themselves, without supporting from above organizations.Keywords: Community Based Resource Management, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Surface Water Environment, Self-management Team, Tam Giang Lagoon.