The Phu Quoc Clean and Green team mobilizes to collect waste. Photo: THUY TRANG
An Giang possesses a vast coastal area with significant potential for developing its marine economy , tourism, aquaculture, and fisheries. Along with these advantages, the province faces numerous challenges such as climate change, rising sea levels, and marine environmental pollution, especially ocean plastic waste. Therefore, raising community awareness in protecting the marine environment is a crucial task, contributing to ensuring sustainable livelihoods for coastal residents.
In 2026, World Ocean Day on June 8th was launched by the United Nations with the theme “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Green Planet,” emphasizing the role of marine protected areas and marine ecosystems in conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecological balance, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, and enhancing adaptation to climate change. In response to World Ocean Day, Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026 will be held from June 1st to 8th, with the theme “Promoting Sustainable Blue Marine Economic Development: From Institutions to Action,” demonstrating a strong shift from management thinking to modern, integrated, and sustainable marine governance; promoting the development of a blue marine economy as a crucial driver for the country's rapid and sustainable growth, based on a harmonious balance between economic growth, social welfare, and environmental and natural resource protection.
According to Danh Thanh Son, Deputy Head of the Department of Marine and Islands of Quang Ninh province: “In response to World Ocean Day and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026, the unit is focusing on promoting communication activities to raise community awareness of the role and importance of the sea and islands for socio-economic development. In particular, the "Green Fish Collect Plastic Waste" model is expected to create a strong ripple effect, helping people change their daily habits and reduce plastic waste in the environment.”
Accordingly, 20 fish-shaped trash cans have been installed in public areas, docks, fishing ports, residential areas, seafood markets, and coastal tourist destinations. With their vibrant design and the message "To keep the sea green - Give me your plastic waste," these models contribute to collecting plastic waste, becoming a visual propaganda tool to remind residents and tourists to raise their awareness of environmental protection. "Protecting the marine environment is not only the responsibility of state management agencies but also requires the joint efforts of the entire society. We hope that through these practical activities, we will gradually foster a sense of self-awareness in the community, contributing to building a green, clean, beautiful, and sustainable marine environment," Mr. Son said.
Activities in response to Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week have received widespread support and participation from the public. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of Rach Gia ward, shared: “Installing the 'Green Fish Collecting Plastic Waste' model in public places is an innovative, approachable, and accessible method for all ages. This is a practical action that contributes to maintaining urban aesthetics while raising awareness about not littering. If every citizen is conscious of disposing of waste in the designated places, the marine environment will become cleaner and more beautiful.”
In addition to implementing the "Green Fish Collect Plastic Waste" model, the Provincial Department of Marine and Islands Affairs, in coordination with the An Giang Provincial Newspaper and Radio-Television, is carrying out news and articles to promote the theme of World Ocean Day and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026 on social media platforms. Simultaneously, they are organizing the display of banners, posters, electronic billboards, and other environmentally friendly visual communication methods in public areas, agency headquarters, schools, residential areas, seaports, tourist areas, and other suitable locations to publicize the purpose, significance, and theme of World Ocean Day and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026.
Each locality organized practical activities in response, tailored to its specific conditions, such as launching ceremonies, community communication campaigns, tree planting, environmental cleanup, plastic waste collection, marine environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, and other activities in support of sustainable green marine economic development.
THUY TRANG
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/hanh-dong-vi-moi-truong-bien-a488148.html
