A robust sea-island economy will be a strong sovereignty marker, NguyenChu Hoi, former General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Seasand Islands, tells the Econet magazine.
* As a dedicatedresearcher of the formation and application of Government policy on thenation's seas and islands, please give us an overview of our East Searesources?
The East Sea (internationally known as South ChinaSea) contains marine natural resources important for daily life andeconomic development of the nations surrounding it, including seafoodand minerals.
It is the one of the world's top ten marinebio-diversity spots and one of the world's 16 biggest fishing areas thathave for long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamesefishermen. It is also an area favourable for aquaculture development.
Besidesits natural resources, the East Sea boasts the world's busiest maritimeroute, connecting the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. There arebetween five and seven regional sea lanes there.
Furthermore,with its long coastline and multiple estuaries, lagoons, gulfs and bays,Vietnam has great potential to develop its ports and harbours.
TheEast Sea's rich natural resources and its position of "a crossroads" onthe world maritime map reflects its great geo-political value, for theregion and the world, tempting all nations in the region and outside toclaim sovereignty over the islands and sea areas.
With nearly3,000 islands and islets near the continental shore and otherarchipelagoes far offshore, Vietnam has great potential to develop itsisland economy. Each island should act like a "sovereignty marker" and"undefeatable battleship". Many islands with favourable geologicaltraits can be developed into economic centres providing fishing andshipping services.
Around the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago,there are nearly one million hectares of shallow lagoons 1-6m deep,surrounded by atolls (ring-shaped coral reef), making them suitable foraquaculture. Marine life diversity is high there. For instance, 517coral species have been found in the area.
Besides the value offishing services and aquaculture, many islands also have appealingscenery and diverse ecological systems suitable for developingeco-tourism services. On the islands are the traditional fishingvillages with age-old cultural and religious structures as also thecultural traditions of island fishermen, reflecting their long historyof living with and off the sea. The tourism benefits of these valueshave not been tapped.
* So how have we exploited such great resources and old seagoing traditions so far?
Forthousands of years, the sea has been a source of livelihood formillions of Vietnamese citizens, contributing to national developmentand creating unique identities, lifestyles and relationships with thesea. However, we have not yet formed a sea industry in its real meaning,despite having a Government policy in place. We have the policy, but wedo not have specific regulations and standards for building such anindustry, causing confusion when it comes to implementing the policy.Our emphasis thus far has been on coastal development, not deep seadevelopment. We should be prepared to go out to the deep sea today forour tomorrow. We need to set targets and draw up a roadmap that sets outthe specific steps we have to take in reaching them. Of course, thereshould also be criteria for assessing implementation of the plan atvarious stages.
Across-the-board development of the sea economyis a costly project that will yield long-term returns. This means thatwe need people with decisive, risk-taking attitudes. Short-terminvestments or people with short-term visions will never succeed.
*Effective and reasonable use of marine resources has been a statednational development strategy. How do you assess its implementation thusfar?
To support development of the island economy, it isnecessary to establish and maintain a strong link between islands andthe shore, particularly coastal areas. There have been good practicesaround the world and even in colonial Vietnam (under the French) thatdeveloped a chain of cities along the coast. We can see it as aport-urban residential area-coastal economic zone-sea model. The fourcomponents of this model are separate economic sectors that areconnected, supporting comprehensive development for long-term benefits.
Current Government policy is now focused on developing cities in alignment with deep-water ports on the central coast.
Thispolicy is right, strategic and suitable, given the country's specificconditions. It has also accommodated the good practices mentioned above.The development of coastal cities and economic zones near deep-waterports will enhance the role of central Vietnam in boosting the nation'ssea and island economy.
However, this development will have tomatch the nation's plan for green economy development in the 2014-2020period. This means that the "brown" sea economy based on oil productionwill have to gradually move to a "green" sea economy based on marine andisland tourism. New jobs will be created for coastal and islanddwellers.
Together with the development of sea economy,developing the island economy in a robust, effective and sustainablemanner will help assert the real and permanent sovereignty over the seasand islands Vietnam claims. It is the best way to show Vietnam'sjurisdiction in the concerned sea area.-VNA
* As a dedicatedresearcher of the formation and application of Government policy on thenation's seas and islands, please give us an overview of our East Searesources?
The East Sea (internationally known as South ChinaSea) contains marine natural resources important for daily life andeconomic development of the nations surrounding it, including seafoodand minerals.
It is the one of the world's top ten marinebio-diversity spots and one of the world's 16 biggest fishing areas thathave for long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamesefishermen. It is also an area favourable for aquaculture development.
Besidesits natural resources, the East Sea boasts the world's busiest maritimeroute, connecting the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. There arebetween five and seven regional sea lanes there.
Furthermore,with its long coastline and multiple estuaries, lagoons, gulfs and bays,Vietnam has great potential to develop its ports and harbours.
TheEast Sea's rich natural resources and its position of "a crossroads" onthe world maritime map reflects its great geo-political value, for theregion and the world, tempting all nations in the region and outside toclaim sovereignty over the islands and sea areas.
With nearly3,000 islands and islets near the continental shore and otherarchipelagoes far offshore, Vietnam has great potential to develop itsisland economy. Each island should act like a "sovereignty marker" and"undefeatable battleship". Many islands with favourable geologicaltraits can be developed into economic centres providing fishing andshipping services.
Around the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago,there are nearly one million hectares of shallow lagoons 1-6m deep,surrounded by atolls (ring-shaped coral reef), making them suitable foraquaculture. Marine life diversity is high there. For instance, 517coral species have been found in the area.
Besides the value offishing services and aquaculture, many islands also have appealingscenery and diverse ecological systems suitable for developingeco-tourism services. On the islands are the traditional fishingvillages with age-old cultural and religious structures as also thecultural traditions of island fishermen, reflecting their long historyof living with and off the sea. The tourism benefits of these valueshave not been tapped.
* So how have we exploited such great resources and old seagoing traditions so far?
Forthousands of years, the sea has been a source of livelihood formillions of Vietnamese citizens, contributing to national developmentand creating unique identities, lifestyles and relationships with thesea. However, we have not yet formed a sea industry in its real meaning,despite having a Government policy in place. We have the policy, but wedo not have specific regulations and standards for building such anindustry, causing confusion when it comes to implementing the policy.Our emphasis thus far has been on coastal development, not deep seadevelopment. We should be prepared to go out to the deep sea today forour tomorrow. We need to set targets and draw up a roadmap that sets outthe specific steps we have to take in reaching them. Of course, thereshould also be criteria for assessing implementation of the plan atvarious stages.
Across-the-board development of the sea economyis a costly project that will yield long-term returns. This means thatwe need people with decisive, risk-taking attitudes. Short-terminvestments or people with short-term visions will never succeed.
*Effective and reasonable use of marine resources has been a statednational development strategy. How do you assess its implementation thusfar?
To support development of the island economy, it isnecessary to establish and maintain a strong link between islands andthe shore, particularly coastal areas. There have been good practicesaround the world and even in colonial Vietnam (under the French) thatdeveloped a chain of cities along the coast. We can see it as aport-urban residential area-coastal economic zone-sea model. The fourcomponents of this model are separate economic sectors that areconnected, supporting comprehensive development for long-term benefits.
Current Government policy is now focused on developing cities in alignment with deep-water ports on the central coast.
Thispolicy is right, strategic and suitable, given the country's specificconditions. It has also accommodated the good practices mentioned above.The development of coastal cities and economic zones near deep-waterports will enhance the role of central Vietnam in boosting the nation'ssea and island economy.
However, this development will have tomatch the nation's plan for green economy development in the 2014-2020period. This means that the "brown" sea economy based on oil productionwill have to gradually move to a "green" sea economy based on marine andisland tourism. New jobs will be created for coastal and islanddwellers.
Together with the development of sea economy,developing the island economy in a robust, effective and sustainablemanner will help assert the real and permanent sovereignty over the seasand islands Vietnam claims. It is the best way to show Vietnam'sjurisdiction in the concerned sea area.-VNA
