Fishing community with on the protection of fisheries resources and marine biodiversity
The workshop was co-organized by VUSTA, Danang Union of Science and Technology Associations and the Center for Building and Promoting Sustainable Development (BUS Center) on the morning of November 6, 2023.
Participating in the workshop were Mr. Phan Van My, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Da Nang City; Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Head of the Communication and Knowledge Dissemination Department of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, representing the leadership and specialized committees of the Union from provinces such as Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Lam Dong; representatives from some international organizations in Vietnam, including World Wide Fund and GreenHub; along with the participation of more than 100 delegates representing leadership from departments, committees, sectors, social organizations, universities, centers, local communities, and some scientists and students in the city.
Scene of the workshop
The workshop was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuc, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Union; Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Head of the Communication and Knowledge Dissemination Department, VUSTA; Mr. Hoang Cong Tin, Head of the Environmental Department, University of Science - Hue University; and Mrs. Kieu Thi Kinh, Chairwoman cum the Founding Council of the BUS Center.
In his opening speech at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuc emphasized “The protection of fisheries resources and biodiversity requires the collective efforts of the government, scientists, and those who directly benefit from marine resources”.
Nguyen Dinh Phuc, Vice President of Danang Union of Science and Technology Associations
Vietnam has over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, a highly rich and diverse ecosystem. However, in recent years, over exploitation has led to declines in fisheries resources in many areas, impacting biodiversity and affecting the genetic diversity of species. Da Nang is the central hub of the Central region, so organizing this workshop is practically significant to contribute to help localities establish effective directions in utilizing human resources, especially the fishing community, in scientific research activities. This aims to build a database on marine biodiversity in the city of Da Nang.
In his address, Mr. Le Thanh Tung highlighted the importance of the seminar in addressing the challenges posed by excessive exploitation and its impact on the marine ecosystem and genetic resources of species.
Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Head of the Communication and Knowledge Dissemination Department of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cong Tin, Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018, from the 8th Central Executive Committee Meeting of the 12th Term (2018) on the "Sustainable Development Strategy for Vietnam's Maritime Economy until 2030, with a vision to 2045," sets forth both overarching and specific objectives. The goal is to propel Vietnam into a maritime powerhouse with sustainable development, prosperity, and ensuring security and safety for the maritime economy.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cong Tin, Head of the Environmental Department, University of Science - Hue University
At the workshop, experts and scientists provided information on the current status of marine biodiversity in the South Central region as well as in Da Nang, addressing various issues related to research, protection of fisheries resources, and biodiversity. Currently, the number of comprehensive studies on the overall status of biodiversity in the coastal area of Da Nang is still limited. Most studies were conducted by the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography in 2005 for the entire coastal area of Da Nang, and the Southern Institute of Ecology (2017), which focused solely on the Son Tra Peninsula. Additionally, there are some individual research projects that concentrate on specific species components. It is evident that the database of marine biodiversity in the coastal area of Da Nang is outdated, and research activities are localized, with data scattered across various reports. This situation poses challenges for management efforts and hinders decision-making support for local authorities.
The current construction of a marine biodiversity database requires extensive and continuous investigation, surveys over a prolonged period, and involves high implementation costs. In the present context in Da Nang City, both human resources and budgets allocated for the survey and exploration of marine biological resources are severely limited. Therefore, leveraging the role of fishermen in supporting extensive data collection can be more effective and cost-efficient compared to traditional scientific research methods. This is a manifestation of the "Citizen Science" model, mobilizing local residents to actively participate in scientific research, addressing and responding to social and environmental issues based on voluntary spirit.
Da Nang is also one of the pioneering localities in the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and these activities involve community participation. To date, the city has established coral reef protection teams engaged in monitoring and safeguarding the marine environment. The team's activities have been acknowledged by the city's People's Committee in 2022. The main members of the team are fishermen operating around the coral reefs in Hai Van and the Son Tra Peninsula. Building on these foundations, we can continue to leverage and establish a citizen science group, initially to assess fisheries resources and coastal biodiversity. After a successful pilot operation, the model can be expanded to offshore groups.
In accordance with Mr. Phan Van My, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Da Nang, the task of protecting fisheries resources is not only the responsibility of state agencies but also the responsibility of the entire population. Currently, fisheries resources are facing significant risks of depletion due to various factors such as climate change, over exploitation, and especially deficiencies in conservation efforts. The workshop will contribute to encouraging community participation in safeguarding fisheries resources and preserving marine biodiversity, providing an opportunity for better protection of fisheries resources.
Mr. Phan Van My, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Da Nang.
Delegatesparticipatedin the discussion
In addition to the discussion, the workshop also recorded numerous suggestions and opinions from individuals and organizations in attendance, including 6 in-depth suggestions and 3 online contributions. The discussion focused on proposing community-based models, and some solutions were mentioned, such as the early establishment of Marine Protected Areas, enhancing state management capabilities, promoting new management models suitable for each locality and region, providing knowledge for fishermen, and conducting awareness campaigns, especially for boat owners and captains to engage in community-based protection and management.
The delegatestookcommemorative photos.
