Processing tra fish for export (Illustrative image. Source:VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Solutionsto protect and develop aquatic resources were the focus of a conference held inHanoi on December 19 by the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
MARD Deputy Minister Phung DucTien listed the challenges facing the fisheries sector such as depletion ofaquatic resources both at sea and inland areas, plastic waste pollution, waterenvironmental pollution and degradation of aquatic ecological systems.
He described the promulgation ofthe Fishery Law in 2017 as a milestone in directing and seeking solutions topreserve and develop aquatic resources.
The Vietnam Directorate ofFisheries reported that the operational 11 marine protected areas (MPAs) cover133,766 ha, or 0.134 percent of the country’s natural sea area and meeting 55.8percent of the set target.
The agency said livelihoodassistance for communities inside and adjacent of those MPAs had been done wellduring 2005-2015, but showed signs of slowing in recent years due to a lack offunding, especially in newly established MPAs.
It raised alarm that the constructionof works in coastal areas and on islands to serve economic activities includingtourism has been directly affecting local ecological systems.
Participants recommended that theDirectorate of Fisheries should design a plan to mobilise resources from theGovernment and international cooperation for the effective management of MPAsand expand the network of MPAs.
They urged the directorate toconduct surveys of bio-diversity and research on restoring ecological systemsin the MPAs, while completing the legal framework for the management of MPAs atnational level.
The conference also pointed tothe need to tighten control of fishing activities to curb the depletion ofaquatic resources./.
VNA
