Marine resources are consisted of living and non-living resources of the sea water, seabed, subsoil, coastal lands and archipelagos, islands, low-tide reefs which fall under the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national jurisdiction of Vietnam. Recognising the great value of sea and island resources for the cause of national construction and defence, particularly the sustainable development of the marine economy, our Party has identified basic orientations and tasks in the Strategy for sustainable exploitation and protection of the marine resources and environment until 2030,... with some key areas as follow:

First of all, in the sustainable exploitation and use of marine resources, our Party clearly states that it is necessary to have proper use of marine space; implement the goals of ensuring national defence and security; protect the environment, conserve the biodiversity, ecosystems, aquatic resources and preserve marine cultural heritage, etc. Especially, strive to maintain the growth rate of seafood production at 3.0% - 4.0% per annum, ensuring that the proportion of renewable energy in total primary energy consumption reaches 32.3% per year, etc.

In the field of marine and island environmental protection, periodically carry out investigation, statistics, classification, monitoring and evaluation of types, state, and sources of marine environmental pollution. By 2025, the mapping of pollution risky zones and assessment of environmental pollution endurance in some highly risky areas in coastal waters will be completed. By 2030, the rate of recovery and treatment of plastic waste at beaches, marine tourist areas and marine conservation areas will reach 100%.

As far as the conservation of marine biodiversity and resources is concerned, it is strived that by 2030, the area of marine and coastal conserves will be increased by at least 06% of the natural area of the national sea, 80% of marine areas have high biodiversity, and the areas of coastal mangroves are restored at least equal to 2000 level; 100% of aquatic resource protection areas are located and effectively managed.

Regarding the response to climate change and rising sea levels, it is necessary to strengthen the capacity to monitor climate change, forecast, and early warning of risks at sea and in coastal areas to proactively respond to natural disasters and climate change, etc. By 2030, the system of forecasting and warning of natural disasters and impacts of climate change will be modernised and seamlessly connected. Review and innovate technology in the exploitation and use of marine resources in the direction of minimising greenhouse gas emissions according to Vietnam's commitment at COP 26 to reach the target of net zero emission by 2050.

In the field of marine basic investigation, continue to implement investigation projects under the key programme on basic investigation of marine resources and environment; promote basic investigation combined with scientific research to discover new types of resources, determine the resilience of marine ecosystems and the endurance of the marine environment, etc.

Those important strategic orientations and tasks are the foundation and favourable legal mechanisms and institutions for departments, ministries, branches and 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities, and related agencies and entities to implement in a unified and synchronous manner, contributing to improving the quality and efficiency of management, exploitation and sustainable use of resources, protecting the environment, and maintaining sovereignty over seas and islands, creating breakthrough change in the country's marine economic development in the coming time.

CAO VUONG