Scene at the workshop (Photo: VNA) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – An ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)workshop on the management of marine plastic pollution opened in Nha Trang, in thecentral province of Khanh Hoa, on May 13.
More than 90 representatives from the ARF are attending the three-dayworkshop, co-chaired by the governments of Vietnam, the US, and Thailand, asapproved by the 25th ARF Ministerial Meeting in Singapore last August.
In her opening speech, Caryn R McClelland, Deputy Chief ofMission at the US Embassy in Vietnam, stressed a healthy ocean will contributeto economic growth, create prosperity, and ensure global food security.
Experts estimated that 80 percent of marine debris isimproper waste disposal from inland sources, while the rest consists of pollutedsubstances from operating ships or abandoned fishing equipment. The pollutionhas been posing a large threat to coastlines and biodiversity.
Such a fact requires a comprehensive set of solutions and coordinationfrom all sides involved to build and implement a strategy on managing andreducing marine plastic waste, she said.
Speaking at the workshop, Head of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs of Vietnam’ ASEAN Department Vu Ho said the country, acknowledging theimportance of ocean and marine resources, has built a state management systemat sea and on islands. Most recently, the 12th Party Central Committee issued aresolution on sustainable sea economic development by 2030 with a vision to2045 at its eighth plenary meeting. According to the resolution, the VietnameseGovernment has begun making a national action strategy on marine plastic waste managementand studies towards build a management policy related to plastic pollution atsea.
As heard at the first discussion session, about 8 milliontonnes of plastic waste is being dumped into the ocean every year. Five out of thetop 10 polluters worldwide are ASEAN member states.
Presented with reports focusing on the negative impacts ofplastic waste on fishing and aquatic farming in the regional waters, participantspointed to related challenges, practical experiences, and opportunities forcooperation to protect marine environment, as well as to ensure sustainablefishing and food security. –VNA
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