IBSS Scientists Investigate Coral Reef Conditions in Vietnamese Waters

On 20 April 2025, the ninth International Russian-Vietnamese expedition departed from Vladivostok aboard the R/V Akademik Oparin, bound for the South China Sea. The expedition includes specialists from the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology (FEB RAS), and three hydrobiologists from IBSS: Dr. Viktor Melnikov, Leading Researcher at the Marine Ecosystems Functioning Department and Candidate of Biological Sciences; Mikhail Silakov, Researcher at the Animal Physiology and Biochemistry Department; and Elena Chudinovskikh, Junior Researcher at the Marine Ecosystems Functioning Department.

In a few days, the vessel will dock in Nha Trang, where a scientific conference will be held. Following the conference, a large group of diver-researchers from 17 institutes of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology will join the expedition. The collaboration between scientists from the two countries involves exchanging expertise and conducting comprehensive 20-day research to assess the state of coral reefs in the northern waters of Vietnam.

“Recent monitoring studies have shown that coral reefs in Vietnam’s coastal waters are in poor condition and continue to deteriorate. The objective of the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas’ work in the South China Sea is to comprehensively assess the state of zoo- and ichthyoplankton in relation to the condition of coral reefs. The specific research question is to determine whether there are significant differences in the diversity and distribution of macro- and ichthyoplankton across different types of coral atolls in the study area. Understanding the resilience of coral atolls and their associated plankton communities is critical for developing adaptive management strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change and human activity on these fragile ecosystems,” reported Viktor Melnikov.

Background:

• Coral reefs in Vietnam’s coastal waters play a vital role in maintaining biological diversity and ecological balance, while also supporting fisheries and tourism. Over 350 species of hard corals inhabit the country’s coastline, covering an area of approximately 1,000 km². At the beginning of this century, only 20% of coral atolls were in good or excellent condition, 60% were in fair condition, and 20% were in poor condition. Over the past 20 years, their condition has significantly deteriorated. The impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities has led to a continuous decline in the health of coral atolls, particularly in the South China Sea. In many areas of Vietnam, corals suffer from overfishing, destructive fishing practices, industrial and domestic wastewater, eutrophication, and unregulated extraction.

• The IBSS team’s work aboard the R/V Akademik Oparin is conducted under the state assignment theme: “Functional, Metabolic, and Molecular Genetic Mechanisms of Marine Organism Adaptation to Conditions of Extreme Ecotopes of the Black, the Sea of Azov, and Other Areas of the World Ocean” (Supervisor: Dr. Alexander Soldatov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor).