The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the seawater quality of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

A significant reduction in anthropogenic impacts on the seawater quality of Ha Long Bay, Vietnamwas observed during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020) compared to previous years (2016–2019). Analysis using a Water Quality Index (WQI) across 28 sampling sites revealed that while overall water quality remained acceptable, 17 sites showed markedly lesser impacts in 2020. Ten sites remained unaffected, and one site exhibited increased impact. This study highlights the pandemic's unintended environmental benefit by providing insights into human activity's influence on marine ecosystems.

Van Hien, D., My, D. H., & Orbell, J. D. (2024). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the seawater quality of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 201, 116242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116242