Sustainable marine environmental protection

With a coastline stretching over 250km, more than 40,000 hectares of tidal flats and over 20,000 hectares of straits and bays, and a vast fishing ground of over 6,100km2, the sea area of ​​Quang Ninh is home to many valuable species, creating great opportunities for the development of aquaculture and fisheries. Over the years, the province has implemented a series of comprehensive solutions to protect the marine environment, preserve the value of bays and islands, and sustainably develop the marine economy.

The Dong Rui Wetland Reserve (Hai Lang commune) has many large-trunked, wide-canopied mangrove trees brimming with vitality.

First, the province is strengthening its marine spatial planning. To date, Quang Ninh has completed the marine spatial zoning integrated into the Provincial Planning, clearly identifying priority areas for economic development linked to the conservation of areas with high ecological value such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long National Park, Co To - Tran Island Marine Reserve, and Dong Rui Wetland Reserve (Hai Lang commune). It has also established biodiversity corridors to enhance connectivity, stabilize habitats adapting to climate change, and conserve and sustainably develop biodiversity resources. This zoning not only directs investment activities to suitable areas but also provides a legal basis to prevent illegal land reclamation and alteration of water edges and protect coastal ecological corridors.

In addition, the province has planned and implemented marine protected areas, with 3 marine protected areas totaling 38,575 hectares and 13 areas for protecting aquatic resources covering approximately 3,440 hectares, aiming to conserve biodiversity, restore resources, and create safe zones to help the ecosystem regenerate. Annually, Quang Ninh releases approximately 6-7 million fingerlings, combined with the implementation of sustainable exploitation models and community-based fisheries management.

Soldiers and civilians on Tran Island (Co To Special Zone) mobilize to clean up the marine environment in the area. Photo: Nguyen Chien.

From coastal protection corridors to the handover of sea surface for aquaculture activities, strict measures have been implemented. The province has completed the planning of 45,146 hectares of water surface for aquaculture development; and issued regulations on the management of coastal protection corridors. To date, 3,287 hectares of sea surface have been handed over for aquaculture. The province has also planned tidal flat areas for the cultivation of native species such as clams, sea worms, oysters, and crabs, totaling 29,717.18 hectares. This helps balance aquaculture development and environmental protection, while creating a control corridor for activities in coastal areas.

In addition, the province also focuses on monitoring and controlling sources of pollution. The environmental monitoring system has been expanded. Currently, the province operates hundreds of monitoring points, including a network of 390 monitoring points in sensitive areas and a system of 171 automatic environmental monitoring stations to control water quality and pollution sources. Regular and unscheduled inspections have been strengthened to detect and promptly handle violations of the marine environment; activities to protect aquatic resources have been enhanced, and violations in the fisheries sector have been strictly dealt with, especially for fishing vessels engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Ancient mossy mangrove forest on Minh Chau Island, Van Don Special Economic Zone (Photo courtesy)

Solutions to reduce plastic waste and manage solid waste are also being promoted by localities across the province. Quang Ninh has implemented models such as "Ha Long Bay - Plastic-Free" and "Co To - Plastic-Free," contributing to the completion of 3 out of 6 targets of the National Plan for the Management of Marine Plastic Waste by 2030 ahead of schedule. The province is also promoting waste sorting at source and developing solid waste treatment infrastructure with 19 incinerators and 3 regional treatment areas, aiming to increase the rate of collection, recycling, and minimize waste released into the sea.

Technology, science , and policy mechanisms are also emphasized to leverage measures for protecting the marine environment. The province promotes the application of technology in monitoring and treating waste and developing a circular economy; at the same time, it develops local technical standards suitable to actual conditions (such as materials for buoys in aquaculture) and improves the quality of environmental assessment and licensing to ensure that development projects conform to planning and do not harm the marine ecosystem.

With diverse solutions ranging from master planning, conservation of sensitive areas, environmental monitoring, management of aquaculture activities and waste treatment, to community mobilization and application of science… that Quang Ninh has implemented in recent years, it has formed a linked strategy that both protects the marine ecosystem and creates conditions for sustainable marine economic development in the area.

Thu Nguyet

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/bao-ve-moi-truong-bien-ben-vung-3378091.html