Decision No. 188/QD-TTg dated February 13, 2012 of the Prime Minister approving the program on protection and development of aquatic resources through 2020

DECISION

APPROVING THE PROGRAM ON PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUATIC RESOURCES THROUGH 2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the November 26, 2003 Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to the November 13, 2008 Law on Biodiversity;

At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To approve the Program on protection and development of aquatic resources through 2020 (below referred to as the Program) with the following contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

To conserve, protect and regenerate aquatic resources with a view to restoring aquatic resources and species of economic and scientific research value, especially coastal aquatic resources; to effectively manage fishing activities with a view to developing a sustainable fishing industry and concurrently preserving biodiversity of Vietnamese marine bio-resources.

2. Specific objectives

a/ By 2015, to complete a database on aquatic resources; to make forecast of resources, fishing grounds and fishing seasons a routine duty of management and scientific research agencies. In the immediate future, to give priority to forecasting resources, fishing grounds and fishing seasons of some key resources in offshore areas;

b/ By 2015, to establish and put into operation 10 marine conservation zones and 19 inland water area conservation zones. By 2020, to complete and put into operation all conservation zones under the master plan on the system of marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones in Vietnam;

c/ By 2015, to complete the planning of zones where fishing is banned and zones where fishing is banned for given periods, and publicize a list of banned fishing trades and aquatic resources banned from fishing;

d/ By 2020, to basically restore coastal marine resources, especially those used as raw material for processing products associated with famous traditional craft villages in Vietnam;

e/ To continue to disseminate public information on and training in the protection of aquatic resources for fishermen, especially fishermen fishing coastal aquatic resources and young people, students and pupils nationwide.

II. MAJOR CONTENTS

1. Resource investigation

a/ To investigate aquatic resources in offshore areas, giving priority to key aquatic resources which have economic value and high output;

b/ To investigate and assess coastal resources and sustainable fishing capacity, giving priority to investigations in areas with concentrated breeding grounds of aquatic species;

c/ To investigate and assess inland aquatic resources, giving priority to investigations in large river basins and lakes with endemic aquatic species and high biodiversity;

d/ To build a database of aquatic resources (both marine and inland aquatic resources) to serve management and forecast work.

2. Prevention of resource depletion

a/ To intensify examination and control of and seriously and timely handle illegal fishing activities, especially destructive fishing activities (using electricity and dynamite) or fishing with banned fishing gear;

b/ Based on resource investigations, to adjust and restructure fishing trades to suit allowable fishing capacity in the direction of not developing and gradually reducing non-selective fishing trades and fishing of young resources in coastal sea areas. In coastal localities, to promote the role of fishermen in reorganizing production toward developing forms of collective economy and raising the community s responsibility in the management and protection of resources and the habitats of coastal aquatic species and building of a new countryside.

3. Conservation of aquatic resources

a/ To establish and put into operation 16 marine conservation zones and 45 inland water area conservation zones in Vietnam under the approved master plan on the system of conservation zones;

b/ To establish 3 marine animal rescue stations in the northern, central and southern regions;

c/ To further study, review and supplement the list of marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones.

4. Restoration and regeneration of aquatic resources and ecosystems

a/ To annually release indigenous, rare and precious aquatic species and species of economic and scientific research value into natural water bodies with favorable conditions with a view to restoring resources, increasing population densities of overexploited aquatic species, restoring eco-balance and stabilizing aquatic biomes in water bodies;

b/ To rehabilitate some typical ecosystems such as coral, seaweed and submerged forests in sea areas with favorable conditions which are important to the protection of aquatic resources; to place artificial reef and create habitats and breeding and growing grounds for aquatic species in areas with favorable conditions;

c/ To restore and protect the living environments of aquatic species, especially breeding grounds, areas where young aquatic species are concentrated, and the habitats of aquatic species.

5. Priority projects (see the Appendix).

III. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. Mechanisms and policies

a/ To review, supplement and elaborate documents on state management of aquatic resource protection, first of all documents on management of marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones, to ensure their compliance with the Law on Fisheries, the Law on Biodiversity and practical conditions of sectors and localities;

b/ To study and elaborate mechanisms and policies to encourage community involvement in aquatic resource protection, support livelihood change for fishermen, especially those who live mainly on fishing coastal resources;

c/ To further improve the collection and use mechanisms for the aquatic resource regeneration fund to operate effectively.

2. Public information, awareness raising and human resource training

a/ To further step up public information and education about the purpose of aquatic resource protection, responsibilities and interests of the community, especially fishermen as well as young people, students and pupils in coastal localities; to involve social and professional organizations in different public information activities for gradually raising awareness of fishermen in aquatic resource protection;

b/ To use different forms of public information appropriate to the practices, conditions and target groups in localities such as production of television series and video clips, broadcasts in local stations and articles in local newspapers; and contests with the participation of large numbers of local fishermen;

c/ To study, compile and include aquatic resource protection contents in extra-curricular activities of schools at all levels, first of all secondary schools and universities;

d/ To focus on training a contingent of officers with high professional qualifications for improving the system of inspection, examination and supervision of aquatic resource protection activities.

3. Science, technology and fishery extension

a/ To further study and select parental breeds and improve the process of artificially producing breeds of some aquatic species of economic value and indigenous and endemic aquatic species with a view to increasing aquatic breeds for regeneration and development of aquatic resources, restoring population densities of some species which are overexploited and endangered;

b/ To apply technologies using remote sensing satellite and satellite positioning in managing and controlling fishing ships activities with a view to protecting resources and the habitats of marine species. To study the insertion of electronic chips for monitoring the migration of some aquatic species of economic and scientific research value such as sea turtle, tuna, etc.;

c/ To carry out scientific research projects on endangered rare and precious aquatic species with a view to adding information on their biological and ecological characteristics and population changes, and proposing appropriate forms of protection;

d/ To rapidly and widely apply research results on breed production, selective fishing trades and raise the effectiveness of the fishing industry; models of production organization associated with community-based management for protecting resources and creating sustainable livelihoods for the community through different forms of fishery extension.

4. International cooperation

a/ To enhance international cooperation with countries in the Mekong River basin on investigation and research of aquatic resources (both at sea and in the inland), management of migratory fish species, management of transnational marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones, prevention of illegal fishing, etc.;

b/ To proactively and actively join such international organizations as the ASEAN, SEAFDEC, FAO, NOAA in exchanging information, learning experience and calling for technical assistance and funds;

c/ To organize study visits to regional countries and other countries for sharing information and experience on the management of conservation zones and investigation and research of resources.

5. Financial mechanisms

a/ The central budget will allocate funds for investigation and research of aquatic resources; building a system of observation and supervision of changes in aquatic resources; developing a database of aquatic resources; building centrally managed marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones; assisting difficulty-hit localities in building essential works of marine conservation zones and inland water area conservation zones, and for activities of projects and tasks under the Program implemented by central agencies;

b/ Local budgets, with central budget supports, will allocate funds for activities of projects and tasks under the Program implemented by localities; and construction and management of conservation zones as decentralized;

c/ Other capital sources: To mobilize and call for financing from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals for implementing activities and projects under the Program.

IV. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

a/ Establish the Program Steering Committee as the focal point to assist the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in directing the Ministry s functional units to draw up specific activity plans and coordinate with related agencies and localities in effectively implementing the Program;

b/ Guide localities in devising specific plans for implementing the Program; build models of protecting and developing aquatic resources with joint efforts of the State and people; establish and manage conservation zones;

c/ Hold annual review meetings to draw experience and widely apply good models; strengthen and enhance operation capacity of research agencies and units functioned and tasked to protect and develop aquatic resources.

2. Provincial-level People s Committees shall direct local administrations at all levels and functional agencies in formulating local specific activity plans; formulate and implement specific projects; coordinate with ministries, central sectors and donors in attracting capital and technical assistance for effectively implementing the Program s activities.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, summarizing capital needs and allocating development investment capital from the central budget s annual estimates for projects and tasks for implementing the Program; elaborate a joint circular guiding financial mechanisms for implementing the Program; and study and consider adding the Program to the list of programs receiving target supports.

4. Related ministries and sectors shall, within the ambit of their tasks and functions, take the initiative in formulating specific activity plans and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in organizing the implementation of the Program s activities and tasks as assigned.

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People s Committees shall implement this Decision.

APPENDIX

LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS
(To the Prime Minister s Decision No. 188/QD-TTg of February 13, 2012)

GROUP A: INVESTMENT PROJECTS

Unit of calculation: VND billion

GROUP B: PROJECTS FUNDED WITH NON-BUSINESS CAPITAL

Unit of calculation: VND billion