By 2030, Vietnam will have 27 marine protected areas, including 16 at the national level and 11 at the provincial level, covering nearly 20 types of ecosystems, some 11,000 aquatic species and about 3,000 islands.
These marine protected areas are privileged areas for the conservation of species, genetic resources and biodiversity, economic and tourism development, as well as for scientific research.
For maritime states, marine protected areas play a particularly important role in sustainable development, contributing to the recovery of fisheries resources, including species of high economic value, rare, endangered or endemic. For many years, several countries have implemented various solutions to strengthen the management, protection, conservation and regeneration of existing areas; to create new areas or to expand those with a high value; to define areas prohibited or to operating restrictions; and to closely associate conservation missions with economic development and maritime tourism.
New approach to management
With advances in science and technology, the management and conservation of marine protected areas are becoming more effective. Globally, commonly applied technologies include GIS (Geographic Information Systems), remote sensing, IoT (Internet of Things), environmental sensors, artificial intelligence, Big Data analysis, as well as drones and maritime surveillance cameras. These technologies allow a global and targeted observation of maritime areas, aquatic species and marked sites in real time, while supporting decision-making and strengthening the transparency and effectiveness of public action.
In Vietnam, in 2024, the Prime Minister promulgated Decision No. 1539 of December 10, 2024, approving the project to expand and create new marine protected areas, fisheries resource protection areas and ecosystem restoration by 2030. According to this project, the maritime area under zoning will reach about 442,000 ha, or 0.44% of the country’s natural maritime area. In addition to the extension and restoration of existing areas, the project also aims to manage and protect fisheries resources in certain maritime areas at specified periods, representing about 6% of the national maritime area.
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Marine pollution, climate change, rising temperatures, overexploitation, the invasion of exotic species, as well as insufficiently controlled economic and tourist activities make the management and protection of marine protected areas in Vietnam increasingly urgent.
According to Nguyên Hông Hai, Deputy Director General of the Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam, the development and application of marine science and technology is one of the major strategic axes defined by Resolution No. 36 on the strategy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s maritime economy by 2030, with a vision until 2045. The transition from a traditional resource exploitation model to a green and circular maritime economy cannot succeed without advanced technologies or a modern approach to management. In 2023, the government instructed ministries, sectors and local authorities to implement coordinated solutions for more efficient management of marine protected areas, while adopting a plan to protect and exploit fisheries resources covering 59 protected areas and 63 areas with limited exploitation.
Need for a global strategy
Despite efforts, the management and conservation of large protected marine areas remains faced with many limitations. Illegal fishing remains widespread; some economic and tourist activities affect the marine environment and habitats of species; global climate change and ocean plastic waste are growing threats to Vietnam’s marine biodiversity.
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Decision No. 1539 defines several groups of priority solutions, including the investment and deployment of scientific and technological applications in the management, conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems, as well as the prevention of risks to living organisms. However, these solutions have not yet been implemented in a truly effective way.
According to Dr. Pham Thi Thùy Linh, of the Institute of Marine and Island Environmental Sciences (reporting to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment), the limited effectiveness of the management of marine protected areas is explained in part by insufficient application of technological solutions. Studies show that few areas use modern technologies and that, when this is the case, their implementation remains fragmented, uncoordinated and lacks integrated control mechanisms. The causes lie in dispersed investment, a lack of funding, insufficient intersectoral coordination, a lack of strategic technologies, a shortage of qualified human resources, as well as a deficit in management and overall investment strategy from the central to local level.
Thus, alongside institutional reforms, public policies and coordination mechanisms, it is essential to consistently deploy solutions based on science and technology. Dr. Pham Thi Thùy Linh recommends the development of digital transformation strategies for marine protected areas, investment in key technologies, the training of high-quality human resources, the construction of national data standards, as well as sharing, interconnection and early warning mechanisms. It also advocates the establishment of frameworks that promote public-private partnerships, international cooperation and links between science, the economy and local communities.
The management, conservation, protection and restoration of biodiversity in marine protected areas are a pillar of the green economy and sustainable development, not only for Vietnam but also for all maritime nations. The results obtained by developed countries such as Japan, Norway, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada demonstrate the decisive role of the application of science and technology. This underscores the imperative need for Vietnam to develop and implement a comprehensive science and technology strategy for its marine protected areas.
source : lecourrier
