The Sea and Island Week 2013, which will call for action to protect the national sea, is set to take place in central Ha Tinh province from June 1-8, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced on May 8.

This year’s event, themed “Together we take actions for the national sea”, aims to raise public awareness of the importance of sea and islands in building and defending the country, said Deputy Head of the Ministry’s Vietnam Administration of Sea and Islands Nguyen Dang Dao.

A series of events are scheduled to mark World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8), Dao added. They include broadcast programmes, a sea forum focusing on marine reserves for sustainable development of natural resources, as well as talk shows on national radio station VOV discussing the protection of marine resources.

Deputy Director of Ha Tinh province’s Natural Resources and Environment Department Phan Van Duong, said at the meeting that this is a chance for Ha Tinh to advertise its local sea potential to lure investors.

Through hosting the Sea and Islands Week, provincial authorities will submit to the Government specific policies to support local fishermen, especially in a poor province like Ha Tinh, he said.

Vietnam boasts a coastline stretching over 3,260 kilometres. Its sea area is believed to be three times bigger than land, with more than 3,000 islands including Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.-VNA