Announcing the Strategy for sustainable use of resources and protection of marine and island environment

On the afternoon of June 3 in Nghe An, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a conference to announce the Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources and protection of the marine and island environment until 2030, with a vision to 2050, and a workshop on national marine spatial planning.

Concretizing the Party's policy on sustainable development of marine economy

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said that the conference was held within the framework of Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, Action Month for the Environment, World Oceans Day and World Environment Day 2023.

This is a meaningful event, affirming the determination and strategic vision to concretize the implementation of the Party's policies on sustainable development of the marine economy; ensuring the exploitation and effective and fair use of resources on the basis of harmonious combination of economic and social interests. At the same time, protecting the environment and national defense and security in coastal areas, islands, archipelagos, seas and airspace under the sovereignty, sovereign rights and national jurisdiction of Vietnam.

Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2018 of the Central Party Executive Committee on the "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045" affirmed that it is necessary to develop the marine economy on the basis of green growth, biodiversity conservation, and marine ecosystems; ensure harmony between economic and natural ecosystems, between conservation and development, between the interests of coastal and non-coastal localities. At the same time, strengthen linkages and restructure sectors and fields towards improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness; promote the potential and advantages of the sea, creating momentum for the country's economic development.

To contribute to the realization of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, the Government issued Resolution No. 48/NQ-CP dated April 3, 2023 on the Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources, protection of marine and island environment until 2030, with a vision to 2050. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment organized the announcement event today with the hope of receiving attention and support to effectively implement the "Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources, protection of marine and island environment until 2030, with a vision to 2050".

Along with the announcement of the Strategy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment organized a Workshop on National Marine Spatial Planning. This is an important tool to concretize the “National Master Plan” and create a basis for managing activities of resource exploitation and use, environmental protection, and conservation of marine ecosystems effectively; contributing to the formation of strong marine economic sectors, creating more livelihoods for people; ensuring national defense and security, maintaining sovereignty, sovereign rights and national jurisdiction at sea.

“We hope that by 2050, all of Vietnam's sea areas will be effectively managed and sustainably used in space, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development and national defense and security, in accordance with natural conditions, socio-economic conditions, resilience, environmental carrying capacity, marine and island ecosystems, and fulfilling the goal of making Vietnam a rich and strong maritime nation. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also hopes to receive many practical and valuable opinions to effectively implement Resolution No. 48/NQ-CP and complete the National Marine Spatial Planning to ensure quality,” Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan affirmed.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Organization in Vietnam, said that after the Strategy is approved, the Government needs to accelerate the development and approval of the marine spatial planning (MSP), which is necessary to exploit the huge potential of a sustainable marine economy.

According to Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Vietnam’s seas and islands are being exploited by many different sectors, but coordination is still limited. Therefore, strengthening governance and coordination in marine economic sectors such as tourism, maritime transport, fisheries, industry, energy exploration and development, planning, investment and environment is very important for the successful implementation of the Strategy as well as other important policies on seas and islands.

The UN Development Organization's Resident Representative in Vietnam also emphasized that international support in terms of know-how, technology transfer, and sustainable finance will be essential to promote change and is also one of the main goals of Resolution 48.

“We recommend that Vietnam should consult the experiences of other countries and development partners in implementing the Strategy, especially when many marine resources go beyond national borders and will require international cooperation for effective and long-term management,” Ms. Ramla Khalidi emphasized.

Prevent and reverse the increasing trend of pollution and degradation of the marine environment

From a local perspective, Mr. Nguyen Van De, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, said that Nghe An has a coastline of 82 km, with great potential for marine economic development such as a large sea area, total reserves of aquatic and seafood products of about 80,000 tons.

A representative of Nghe An province said that, in parallel with the economic and social development of coastal areas, the gradual approach and maximum utilization of advanced scientific and technological achievements in marine economic development, environmental protection, response to climate change and rising sea levels are also being directed. Currently, 100% of coastal industrial zones have been invested in centralized wastewater treatment systems and 100% of coastal urban areas of type IV or higher have and are being invested in centralized wastewater treatment systems to ensure environmental protection requirements.

“In the coming time, Nghe An province will focus resources on accelerating the pace of building Nghe An into a strong province in the marine economy of the North Central region, gradually preventing and repelling the increasing trend of pollution, marine environmental degradation, coastal erosion and sea encroachment; forming a marine culture, restoring and conserving marine ecosystems. Closely combining the development of the marine and island economy with ensuring national defense - security, protecting territorial sovereignty...”, said Mr. Nguyen Van De.

The strategy for marine economic development aims that by 2030, marine and island resources will be exploited reasonably and used effectively to rapidly and sustainably develop marine economic sectors and coastal areas, especially key marine economic sectors in order of priority: Marine tourism and services; Maritime economy; Exploitation of oil and gas and other marine mineral resources; Aquaculture and seafood exploitation; Coastal industry; Renewable energy and new marine economic sectors; improving community life and livelihoods...

Vision to 2050: Marine and island resources are exploited reasonably and used effectively to turn Vietnam into a strong maritime nation on the basis of green growth, marine biodiversity is preserved, the marine environment and islands are clean, and society is in harmony with nature./.

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