Under Decision No. 254/QD-UBND, Quang Ngai has identified three separate sea-based disposal zones with different capacities, geographic contexts, and operational implications. Together, these sites create a regulated framework for receiving millions of cubic meters of dredged sediment generated from marine and waterway projects.

The first and largest zone is located beyond the six-nautical-mile boundary off Van Tuong waters, covering approximately 500 hectares at depths ranging from 62.5 to 64.3 meters. This area is expected to receive around 6.5 million cubic meters of dredged material, making it the province’s primary offshore disposal site. Its deeper offshore position suggests an effort to reduce nearshore ecological impacts, though long-term sediment dispersal and benthic ecosystem monitoring will remain essential.

The second zone, located within six nautical miles off Tinh Khe waters, spans 100 hectares with depths of 22.2 to 26.2 meters and a projected capacity of about 1 million cubic meters. Because of its relatively shallower and closer coastal location, this area may require particularly rigorous environmental oversight to avoid impacts on fisheries, sediment transport patterns, and coastal habitats.

The third zone, off Sa Huynh waters, covers 150 hectares at depths between 62.6 and 64.9 meters and can receive approximately 1.7 million cubic meters. Sa Huynh’s ecological and fisheries importance means environmental safeguards here will also be especially important.

From a governance perspective, Quang Ngai’s framework emphasizes that disposal activities are not blanket permissions, but tightly regulated processes requiring environmental impact assessments, marine dumping permits, and location-specific approvals. Provincial authorities have assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment a central role in reviewing environmental reports, issuing recommendations, supervising compliance, and conducting annual environmental monitoring.

This regulatory structure is crucial because dredged material disposal can carry significant ecological risks if poorly managed. Depending on sediment composition, disposal can alter seabed conditions, smother benthic habitats, affect marine biodiversity, increase turbidity, and potentially disrupt fisheries. Therefore, accurate sediment classification, disposal precision, and continuous monitoring are essential.

The involvement of military, border defense, maritime authorities, police, and local governments further reflects the multi-dimensional nature of marine disposal governance, which intersects with environmental law, maritime safety, national security, and local livelihoods.

Importantly, Quang Ngai’s annual review and adjustment mechanism suggests recognition that marine management must remain adaptive. Coastal systems are dynamic, and designated dumping sites may need revision as environmental conditions, scientific data, or development pressures evolve.

Ultimately, the announcement of these three disposal zones is not merely an administrative action—it is a test of how effectively Quang Ngai can pursue economic and infrastructure growth while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

As Vietnam’s coastal development accelerates, the true success of such policies will depend not on the creation of disposal zones alone, but on whether scientific oversight, legal enforcement, and ecological responsibility are consistently upheld. In this context, managing dredged material responsibly is about more than sediment—it is about protecting the long-term health, productivity, and resilience of the sea itself.