On July, 23^rd 2026, in Ca Mau City, MCD, in collaboration with the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, organized the conference “Review of efforts in Marine Protected Area Management and Fisheries Co-management in Ca Mau Province for 2024–2026 and planning for the coming period.”

The conference was held in person in Ca Mau Province, bringing together more than 50 participants from the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, the management boards of Mui Ca Mau National Park and U Minh Ha National Park, border guard stations, the People’s Committees of Da Bac, Song Doc, Cai Doi Vam, and Dat Mui communes, MCD, and technical experts. The event also welcomed representatives from the Song Doc community, the Da Bac community co-management group, as well as media and press agencies.

Photo: Overview of the conference

At the conference, Mr. Pham Van Muoi, Vice Director of the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that strengthening marine conservation and fisheries resource protection is a sound policy that responds to the need for fisheries resource recovery and climate change adaptation in Ca Mau. Looking ahead, the province will continue implementing the Ca Mau Marine Protected Area Management Plan, establish and fully operationalize the Marine Protected Area Management Board with its mandated roles and responsibilities, and further promote fisheries co-management in accordance with Circular No. 88/2025/TT-BNNMT.

Photo: Mr. Pham Van Muoi – Vice Director of the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment –  delivering remarks at the conference.

Mr. Bui Nhat Phuong, Vice Director of the Ca Mau Sub-Department of Seas, Islands and Fisheries Surveillance, highlighted that law enforcement in the Ca Mau Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been strengthened through 28 patrol and inspection missions conducted in key areas. During these patrols, enforcement agencies also carried out awareness-raising activities, reaching approximately 3,000 fishers with information on the Law on Fisheries, measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and responsibilities for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of fisheries resources. In addition, the relevant authorities, in coordination with local governments, inspected aquaculture activities in the waters surrounding the Hon Chuoi island cluster. As a result, 46 fish cages and rafts were identified and required to be relocated outside the strictly protected zone to ensure compliance with the Ca Mau MPA Management Regulations. Aquaculture households were also provided with guidance on selecting suitable farming locations and completing the required legal procedures.

Photo: Mr. Bui Nhat Phuong – Vice Director of the Ca Mau Sub-Department of Seas, Islands and Fisheries Surveillance – delivering remarks at the conference.

As part of the conference, participants were presented with updates on the implementation of the Ca Mau MPA Management Plan, the enforcement of the Ca Mau Management Regulations, and the collaborative management of the MPA in the Hon Chuoi area by the relevant technical agencies and the Hon Chuoi Border Guard Station.

Photo: A representative of the Song Doc border guard station presenting on collaborative management efforts for the Ca Mau MPA at Hon Chuoi area

Representing MCD –  Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang –  Project Coordinator and Mr. Nguyen Khac Hiep – Project Officer, presented the results of the collaboration between the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment and MCD in supporting the management of the Ca Mau MPA and in developing and implementing the fisheries co-management model for fisheries resource protection in Ca Mau during 2024–2026.

Photo: Mr. Nguyen Khac Hiep, MCD Project Officer, presenting the results of MCD’s support for the Ca Mau MPA and the development and implementation of the fisheries co-management model in Ca Mau.

Photo: Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang – MCD Project Coordinator – sharing lessons learned from supporting the Ca Mau MPA and applying fisheries co-management in Ca Mau.

Representing the People’s Committee of Da Bac Commune –  Mr. Nguyen Canh Hanh presented the implementation of the fisheries co-management model integrated with marine conservation in Da Bac Commune, with technical support from MCD.

Photo: Mr. Nguyen Canh Hanh –  representative of the People’s Committee of Da Bac Commune – presenting the implementation of fisheries co-management and marine conservation in Da Bac Commune.

In her remarks, a representative of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance from national level acknowledged Ca Mau Province’s efforts to protect marine ecosystems, strengthen law enforcement through patrol and monitoring activities, enhance public awareness, and encourage community participation. The representative also recommended that provincial authorities continue addressing challenges related to infrastructure, human resources, institutional management, and violations within the Marine Protected Area, while further promoting fisheries co-management as a key approach to strengthening fisheries resource protection.

Photo: Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Linh, – representative of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, – delivering remarks at the conference.

During the conference, participants discussed measures to strengthen the management of the Ca Mau MPA, as well as priority actions and future plans to advance fisheries co-management and marine conservation in the province. The conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the current status and achievements of the Ca Mau MPA and the fisheries co-management model in Da Bac Commune. Participants noted encouraging signs of recovery in fisheries resources and marine biodiversity, particularly within coral reef ecosystems. While significant progress has been made in enhancing community awareness and strengthening technical capacity for ecosystem monitoring, the province continues to face major challenges, including limited financial resources, insufficient staffing, and the absence of a dedicated management board for the Ca Mau MPA. Looking ahead, Ca Mau Province plans to establish a dedicated management board, invest in modern equipment and facilities, and further promote sustainable livelihood models such as ecotourism, to help balance marine conservation with local economic development.

Photo: Community representative discussing collaboration to strengthen fisheries co-management and marine conservation activities in Ca Mau.

Photo: Participants at the conference.

This conference was organized under the cooperation plan between MCD and the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as part of the initiative “Technical support for advancing marine conservation and fisheries co-management to strengthen natural resource protection and promote sustainable fisheries development in Viet Nam and the region.”