Vietnam bolsters efforts for sustainable development of marine livelihoods

The theme of this year's World Oceans Day is 'The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods', which creates an opportunity for all-level agencies, sectors and localities to show their resolve in implementing the national strategy on sustainable development of the sea-based economy.

Fishing in Vietnam

Marine-based livelihoods have been developing in both scope and scale in Vietnam, in line with the real needs and the country’s policy on sustainably developing the sea-based economy.

However, Vietnam’s coastal areas and waters are facing greater threats posed by increasing extreme weather conditions such as rising sea levels and mega storms, not to mention the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which gravely affect the livelihoods and production activities of coastal communities, according to Ta Dinh Thi, Director General of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI).

Thi underlined that to sustain marine-based livelihoods, marine resources must be used in an appropriate and cost-saving manner.

He recommended building specific strategies on marine livelihoods for fishermen, stressing that they must be closely associated with the protection of the environment and the ocean.

In addition, one of the effective measures to protect and develop sustainable marine livelihoods is to foster coordination with countries and international organisations in seeking financial and technical aid, in a bid to raise capacity in marine diversity conservation.

The World Oceans Day this year marked the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), to support efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean./.

VNA