A fish worshipping festival took place in the central province of Khanh Hoa on May 15 as part of National Tourism Year 2019 and the ninth Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival.

The fish worshipping festival is observed by the coastal communities stretching from Quang Binh to Kien Giang provinces. It originates from the traditional worship of Southern Sea God (Whale) believed to protect fishermen in distress at sea. Festival aims to preserve and bring into full play the cultural value of the traditional rituals. Earlier the same day,  the People’s Committee of Nha Trang city released 600,000 aquatic breeds on Nha Trang Bay. The activity formed part of nearly 60 activities within the framework of the 2019 National Tourism Year and the 9th Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival. It is designed to promote the protection and conservation of aquatic resources. Nha Trang Bay spans some 507 km2 with 19 islands and a diverse marine ecosystem of coral reefs, mangrove forests, and beaches, among others. However, in recent year, rapid socio-economic development coupled with overexploitation at sea have badly impacted such diversity.-VNA