Research on the scientific basis for establishing a network for basic marine environmental investigation and monitoring in the period 2020-2030, with a vision to 2045.

On August 1, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) held a meeting of the Council for evaluating and accepting the national-level science and technology task: "Research on the scientific basis for building a network for basic investigation and monitoring of the marine environment in the period 2020 - 2030, with a vision to 2045", project code ĐTĐL.CN-56/20.

The project, led by Dr. Nguyen Le Tuan and sponsored by the Institute of Environmental, Marine and Island Sciences ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), aims to design a highly scientific, comprehensive, and consistent network for marine environmental investigation and monitoring across the entire continental shelf.

Reporting at the session, Dr. Nguyen Le Tuan stated that Vietnam is implementing major strategies such as: Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2018, of the Central Committee on the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Marine Economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045; the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment (2015); the National Marine Spatial Planning and related sectoral/field plans. These orientations all require a comprehensive, accurate, and continuously updated network for monitoring marine environmental data, serving as a foundation for forecasting, monitoring, planning, and management.

Dr. Nguyen Le Tuan, on behalf of the research team, presented a summary of the research content and results of the project.

The project successfully achieved its objectives and yielded noteworthy results, such as: establishing a network for basic marine environmental surveys and monitoring in Vietnam, tasked with measuring oceanographic characteristics such as marine meteorology, marine dynamics (marine hydrology), and seawater environment, designed for implementation through marine survey teams using specialized vessels; and researching and designing a marine environmental measurement, observation, and monitoring network for the period 2020-2030 with 6 characteristic cross-sections for 6 marine regions (Northern Vietnam, North Central Vietnam, Central Vietnam, South Central Vietnam, Southeast Vietnam, and Southwest Vietnam).

With its flexible deployment method using specialized survey vessels, the project's network design has the potential to expand the monitoring area to offshore regions, sensitive areas, or areas with complex topographic conditions. When integrated with a fixed base station system, data from the project's network will contribute to: (i) Thickening and enhancing the spatial-temporal coverage of the national marine monitoring data system. Supplementing real-time and flexible measured data, serving the calibration and verification of numerical models, especially during periods of extreme events (storms, environmental incidents); (ii) Creating a solid scientific basis for verifying, comparing, and optimizing the location of fixed stations in the future; (iii) Supporting the design of an integrated inter-regional and inter-sectoral monitoring program, ensuring investment efficiency, avoiding duplication, and improving the ability to forecast and comprehensively monitor the marine environment.

In addition, the study proposed modern technologies and methods suitable for Vietnamese conditions, including: automatic monitoring technology, IoT sensors, unmanned devices, remote sensing, real-time data integration models, sampling and laboratory analysis methods according to international standards, and subsequently proposed a list of equipment, organizational systems, and methods for collecting and processing data to serve integrated management.

Furthermore, the establishment of a synchronized and modern monitoring network provides accurate data for sustainable marine resource exploitation planning. This monitoring network allows for early detection of pollution and degradation of marine ecosystems, enabling timely implementation of environmental protection solutions; it also helps track climate change, sea level rise, and other long-term impacts on the marine and island environment.

National Acceptance Assessment Council.

The members of the Acceptance Council highly appreciated the contributions of the project leader and the sponsoring agency, and unanimously approved the project. They also requested the research team to incorporate the feedback and make necessary revisions, completing the dossier for submission to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a decision on the recognition of the project's results.

Department of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/nghien-cuu-co-so-khoa-hoc-xay-dung-mang-luoi-dieu-tra-co-ban-va-giam-sat-moi-truong-bien-giai-doan-2020-2030-tam-nhin-2045-19725080621192976.htm