International conference discusses green marine economy

Khanh Hoa (VNA) – A conference on solutions to developing a green maritime economy was held in the central province of Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang city on July 8, gathering 50 representatives from State agencies and international organisations.

As heard at the discussion, environmental incidents are on the rise in Vietnam under the impact of climate change and human overexploitation of marine resources. As a result, large-scale coral reefs and seagrass have been damaged, and a significant number of species are on the verge of extinction.

Shared at the conference were effective farming models applied in Vietnam, including ecological shrimp farms in Ca Mau or aquatic farming and mangrove forest planting in Ben Tre and Tra Vinh.

Associate Professor Nguyen Chu Hoi from the Hanoi-based Vietnam National University said Vietnam, as part of its strategy toward green growth, opts for the improvement of the marine ecosystem, which will benefit the country in both the short and long terms.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung from the Directorate of Fisheries pointed to the fishery co-management, a pilot community-based coastal fishery resources management model, in which authorities and communities share the responsibility.

To make the model effective, a legal framework and strong budget are necessary, she said.-VNA