At the 5th APEC Ocean Ministerial Meeting (AOMM5) held in Busan, South Korea, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien, leading the Vietnamese delegation, shared Vietnam's efforts in marine conservation.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Phung emphasized that, in the context of climate change, environmental pollution, and overexploitation, enhancing the resilience of oceans and conserving the marine environment for sustainable economic growth is essential for every economy.
Regarding Vietnam's efforts, the country is implementing seven key measures to protect and restore the oceans, including:
First, developing a comprehensive fisheries conservation plan per the Prime Minister's decision.
Second, establishing 20 marine protected areas and researching effective conservation measures by region (OECM) to restore ecosystems and biodiversity.
Third, creating sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities by promoting the transition from fishing to aquaculture, focusing on equitable and inclusive economic empowerment in the marine and fisheries sectors, especially prioritizing women and coastal communities.
Fourth, encouraging public-private partnerships (PPP) and co-management models to increase stakeholder participation.
Fifth, applying circular economy models to develop marine and integrated aquaculture using ecosystem-based, multi-value approaches that include environmentally friendly services and high economic efficiency.
Sixth, implementing programs to reduce marine plastic waste, such as collecting and sorting plastic waste in communities, improving wastewater treatment, and monitoring the aquatic environment in aquaculture areas and fish ports.
Lastly, promoting regional and international cooperation to enhance ocean resilience and conserve the marine environment.
On the issue of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that Vietnam is working to refine its legal framework and monitoring mechanisms for fishing activities by implementing a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), tracing the origin of harvested seafood products, strictly penalizing violations, and supporting fishermen in complying with the law.
At the same time, Vietnam is strengthening regional and international cooperation by sharing information, managing, and harmonizing fisheries laws; transitioning from fishing to sustainable marine aquaculture; enabling fishing vessels and fishermen to operate legally beyond national waters; and fully fulfilling international commitments to ocean protection, aquatic ecosystems, and fisheries resources.
Deputy Minister Phung further emphasized that Vietnam is ready to share practical models and looks forward to closely collaborating with APEC economies towards a comprehensive, green, prosperous, and sustainable economy.