Let's act together to protect the seas and islands.

World Oceans Day (June 8th), established annually by the United Nations, reflects the efforts and connections of people worldwide to conserve and sustainably develop the seas and oceans; honoring the value of the ocean to life and to the prosperous and sustainable development of humanity. Therefore, the theme for World Oceans Day 2024 is: “Deeper Understanding of the Ocean,” calling on nations to explore and understand the ocean; and to work together to protect it, for a clean and sustainable ocean.

Youth union members and young people mobilize to collect trash and clean up the beach in Vinh Thai commune, Vinh Linh district - Photo: TN

World Ocean Day (June 8th) and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week, held annually from June 1st to 8th, is an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its potential and determination to sustainably develop its marine economic sectors, while simultaneously protecting environmental resources and national sovereignty at sea. Responding to Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week also serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness of protecting natural resources, conserving and promoting the value of marine and island resources and the environment; fostering national pride and consciousness regarding the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands, contributing to maintaining stability and development of the country.

In response to World Ocean Day and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Tri province proactively developed a plan and advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan for organizing activities; organized training conferences and disseminated legal knowledge on the sea and islands; and conducted a signing ceremony to implement the "fishermen bringing garbage ashore" model. The aim was to promote awareness of coastal protection corridors, sorting and collecting plastic waste, managing the activities of people and vehicles in the maritime border area of Vietnam, equip fishing boat owners and fishermen with legal knowledge, and improve their understanding and compliance with the law.

From May 21-22, 2024, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with Squadron 202 - Command of Coast Guard Region 2, organized two training conferences to disseminate legal knowledge on the field of sea and islands in 2024 in Cua Tung town, Vinh Linh district and Cua Viet town, Gio Linh district, with more than 200 fishing boat owners and fishermen.

The purpose of the training course is to help local officials in charge of marine resource and environmental management improve the effectiveness and efficiency of managing, exploiting, and utilizing resources, protecting the marine and island environment, and to disseminate information to fishermen on the collection and treatment of solid waste on fishing vessels and the prevention of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, ensuring security and order at sea.

Disseminating thematic information on the coastal protection corridor of Quang Tri province; sorting, collecting, and processing plastic waste on fishing vessels; and preventing and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Disseminate the content of the Vietnamese Law on the Sea, the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment, coastal protection corridors, and other legal documents on the sea and islands. Promote the classification, collection, and treatment of plastic waste on fishing vessels; disseminate Government Decree 71/2015/ND-CP dated September 3, 2012, on the management of activities of people and vehicles in the maritime border area within Vietnam's territory.

Through training, boat owners and fishermen have the opportunity to exchange experiences and share difficulties and obstacles encountered while going out to sea, helping state management agencies in charge of sea and islands to understand and advise on the issuance of documents and policies on the management and exploitation of sea and islands more thoroughly and specifically.

This will strengthen the management of marine and island resources and the environment in the province, making it increasingly effective, promoting the potential values of the sea and islands, enhancing the competitiveness of the economy and the maritime position of Quang Tri, while protecting the environment and preserving ecological values; and at the same time, linking it with the task of ensuring national defense and security and protecting national territorial sovereignty.

In addition, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Provincial Farmers' Association, in coordination with the People's Committee of Vinh Linh district, organized the signing of an agreement to implement the "Fishermen bring waste ashore" model for fishermen in Vinh Thai, Kim Thach communes and Cua Tung town, Vinh Linh district.

The commitment aims to raise awareness among the community about the position and importance of the sea and islands in the cause of national construction and defense, protecting maritime security and sovereignty, and protecting marine resources and the environment. It also aims to raise awareness about the sustainable exploitation and use of resources, the protection of the marine environment, and the preservation of marine ecosystems.

Do not engage in illegal fishing, do not catch endangered species; do not fish for aquatic life using explosives or electric shocks.

Propagating and mobilizing people and fishermen on fishing vessels to maintain marine environmental hygiene, not littering, and not dumping waste into the sea; committing to collecting waste during fishing and transportation, bringing waste ashore for processing; and implementing the "Say no to single-use plastic products" campaign.

Raising awareness about the dangers of plastic and nylon pollution aims to encourage change and ultimately eliminate the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable, single-use plastic products.

In particular, it helps fishermen develop the habit of not littering at sea, collecting and bringing waste ashore, contributing to cleaning up the marine environment and oceans.

Tan Nguyen

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