Directorate of Fisheries Deputy General Director Chu Tien Vinh has attended a ASEAN meeting to discuss measures for the fisheries sector’s adaptation to climate change.

The meeting, held recently by the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) in Bangkok , Thailand , drew ministers and senior officials from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and partners from China , Japan and the Republic of Korea .

Participants highlighted the important role played by the fisheries sector in sustainable development, food security and living condition improvement in the region.

They, therefore, raised concern over challenges and negative impact on the sector caused by climate change, especially the fisheries resource dry-out and habitat degradation.

The meeting pointed out the need to facilitate regional cooperation in adapting fishing to climate change for sustainable growth, food security and improvement in living conditions.

They added that this meeting that laid the foundation for the relationship between ASEAN and SEAFDEC would help the region achieve the above-said goal.

Also emphasised were stronger partnerships with China , Japan and the ROK as well as with Australia , the United States , the European Union, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the Mekong River Commision, the WorldFish Centre, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

On the sideline of the meeting, Deputy General Vinh of the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told reporters that Vietnam has been taking measures to gear fishing to public interest by 2020.

A number of programmes have been deployed to sustain the ecological system’s quality for people’s long-term benefits, especially of the communities along the coastline, Vinh said.

He hailed initiatives and programmes of action taken by member countries in addressing challenges, especially in making subsidies structures, transfer of technology, exchange of experiences and mutual assistance in human development.

Vietnam has signed memorandums of understanding in fishing and aquaculture with Indonesia and the Philippines and is preparing to sign similar accords with Myanmar , Malaysia and some other ASEAN members.

So far this year, Vietnam has earned some 3 billion USD from seafood exports and the figure is expected to reach up to 6 billion USD for the whole of this year.

Along with improving the quality and hygiene of seafood, the fisheries sector has been diversifying the products in farming and processing, with focus shifting to mollusc and African carp./.