The Government has approved a five-year training project on sustainable management, protection and development of coastal areas and islands nationwide.

The project, which will span from 2010 to 2015, aims to train marine management and sea resources staff, update legal materials for ocean and island management and protection and raise community awareness about sustainable resource exploitation and protection of coastal areas.

Under the programme, training will be provided to sea resources, marine management commune-level coastal management staff. Soldiers, navy officers and fishermen will also be among those to receive training.

Successful models of sustainability will be introduced to participants and their adoption encouraged.

Field trips will also be organised for local reporters, residents and fishermen, to learn about sea ecology systems like coral and mangrove forests.

If implemented according to plan, by 2015 all communes and towns in coastal areas will be educated about environmental problems affecting coastal areas.

Another focal point of the project will be to improve advertising of local sea attractions. Local government in coastal areas will receive assistance to develop and market local natural products and services for the tourism industry.

As part of the communications campaign, broadcasting hours and a greater diversity of television programmes relating to protection of coastal areas will be encouraged.

The project, which has a total budget of 175 billion VND (9.7 million USD), will draw 118 billion VND (6.5 million USD) worth of funds from the central government and rest from local government
contributions./.