Vietnam to expand marine protected areas

Vietnam will establish and expand 27 marine protected areas covering over 442,230 hectares in order to raise the total area of marine protected zones to almost 0.5 percent of the country's natural marine area by 2030.

This is the objective of the scheme on expansion and establishment of new marine protected areas, fishery resource conservation zones and marine ecosystem restoration areas by 2030 that has been approved under Decision 1539/QD-TTg of December 10.

The scheme is also designed to proactively respond to climate change, rising sea levels and develop a sustainable marine economy in association with ensuring national defense, security, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It seeks measures to efficiently manage 59 fishery resource conservation zones and 63 temporary no-fishing zones in marine areas.

To achieve these objectives, the decision has mentioned six key tasks and four ways to implement them.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will work with related ministries, agencies and local governments to ensure the effective implementation of the scheme.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is assigned to guide local authorities in establishing and managing coastal wetland conservation zones and important coastal wetlands while the Ministry of Planning and Investment will propose and report to authorities on State budget allocations for medium-term and annual public investment plans to finance the projects.

By: VLLF