The project “Mitigating Marine plastic debris in Viet Nam”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety and implemented by WWF-Vietnam, is being effectively carried out in Phu Yen province, bringing about positive changes in marine environmental protection.
This initiative stands as a model of international cooperation aimed at sustainable development and preserving coastal ecosystems and marine biodiversity in the South Central Coast of Vietnam.
Since 2022, Phu Yen has actively partnered with WWF-Vietnam to implement practical models such as “Plastic Waste-Free Schools,” waste segregation at source, and the collection of marine debris brought ashore by local fishers. These activities have not only improved the capacity of environmental management officials but also helped promote green consumption habits and reduce single-use plastic consumption in the community.
Local fishermen in Phu Yen participate in a marine waste collection initiative, bringing plastic debris from sea to shore. Photo: ITNThe project has also supported the improvement of local waste collection systems and launched extensive and continuous public communication campaigns to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on health and the environment. According to the provincial Department of Environmental Protection and Marine and Island Affairs, pilot models are being maintained and scaled up, laying the groundwork for Phu Yen’s waste separation and solid waste reduction roadmap.
Between 2021 and 2025, hundreds of thousands of tons of waste have been collected and treated, and many pollution hotspots have been eliminated. Initiatives encouraging fishers to bring waste from sea to shore not only prevent marine plastic leakage from aquaculture and fishing activities but also enhance the role of fishing communities in ocean conservation.
The project will contribute to implementing Vietnam’s National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management by 2030. Specific targets include banning the sale and distribution of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and shopping centers by 2026 and ending the production and import of single-use plastic products after 2030.
“Phu Yen is one of the leading provinces in implementing plastic reduction models, with strong engagement from both the government and the local community,” said Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh, Technical Coordinator at WWF. “The project highlights the essential role of international cooperation in tackling one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.”