On 09 May 2024, the Government issued Decision No. 389/QD-TTg on “Approving the Plan for the protection and exploitation of aquatic resources for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050”. This is the concretisation of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated 22 October 2018 of the Party Central Committee (12th tenure) on “Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045”, aiming to protect, conserve and develop aquatic resources in all types of waterbodies and conserve marine biodiversity; exploit aquatic resources sustainably, meeting the requirements of international integration.

Accordingly, the plan covers inland water bodies and sea areas under the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Vietnam, including the sea areas of the Paracel and Spratly Islands. This is an important basis to realise the following goals by 2030.

Regarding the protection and development of aquatic resources, the Plan aims to establish 27 marine reserves with a total sea area of  about 463,587 hectares, accounting for about 0.463% of the natural area of ​​​​the seas under national jurisdiction. There are 149 sea areas and 119 inland waters zoned for aquatic resource protection and concentrated breeding protection, etc.

When it comes to fisheries exploitation, it is planned that there will be a total of about 83,600 fishing vessels; by 2050, Vietnam will have developed a sustainable and modern fisheries industry, equivalent to those of regional and world countries; marine biodiversity and inland water bodies are preserved and developed; people's living standards will be much improved, contributing to ensuring social security, protecting sovereignty, security, order and Vietnam’s national interests on rivers and at sea.

To ensure unified, synchronous and effective implementation, the Plan points out a number of key orientations, focusing on restoring aquatic resources, especially species which are highly-economic, endangered, precious, rare and endemic; strengthening the management, assessment, conservation, protection and regeneration of aquatic resources in all types of inland and marine water bodies; promoting the application of science and technology, digital transformation in the management and protection of aquatic resources, etc. As far as fisheries exploitation is concerned, emphasis is placed on adjusting the proportion of exploitation output between sea areas, in accordance with the reserves of aquatic resources; selectively exploiting aquatic species of high economic value; transforming the structure of fisheries exploitation in inland waters and sea areas in accordance with the aquatic reserves; investing in and synchronously developing infrastructure and logistics services for fisheries exploitation, etc. In addition, the Plan also proposes synchronous solutions to promote the synergy of all levels, sectors, forces, and localities in implementation.

With a strategic vision based on reality, the Plan is an important basis for redistributing space for conservation, protection, and exploitation of aquatic resources in accordance with the reserves, ecosystems, natural conditions, socio-economic conditions of each region and economic sectors. At the same time, it ensures the harmony between socio-economic development and environmental protection, while developing a blue marine economy, making our country strong and prosperous from the sea.

CAO VUONG