In response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2026 (1–8 June 2026), the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), in collaboration with the Khanh Hoa Sub-department of Fisheries, Seas and Islands and the Van Hung Commune People’s Committee, organized a technical training course on environmentally friendly aquaculture for local communities in the area implementing co-management for fisheries resource protection in Van Hung Commune.

This activity was carried out within the framework of a technical support program aimed at promoting co-management and marine conservation, thereby enhancing community capacity for sustainable livelihood development associated with fisheries resource protection and marine ecosystem conservation.

The training course was attended by more than 35 local residents representing households that are members of the community organization implementing co-management for fisheries resource protection in the Ran Trao Marine Ecosystem Protected Area and the wider Van Hung community. Participants received updated information on policies, regulations, and marine aquaculture planning in Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa Province. The most updates on the results of a survey assessing the current status of aquaculture cages and rafts in the co-management area of Van Hưng Commune were also shared, providing a practical basis for measures to improve the arrangement, management, and organization of marine aquaculture activities in accordance with the local co-management plan.

Mr. Tran Trung Thong, Deputy Head of the Economic and Infrastructure Division of the Van Hung Commune People’s Committee, presented the results of the survey on the current status of aquaculture cages and rafts within the co-management area.

As the core of the training program, Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan Thu, Head of the Aquaculture Division of the Khanh Hoa Department of Fisheries, Seas and Islands, introduced the Code of Conduct and Technical Protocol for implementing environmentally friendly aquaculture to be applied in the co-management area in Van Hung commune. The Code and Protocol include specific requirements on aquafarming in designated areas, safe arrangement of aquaculture rafts and cages, compliance with regulations, selection of quality seed stock, animal care, cage and raft management, feed use, monitoring of the aquafarming environment, and disease prevention. Those contents have been jointly developed and agreed upon for implementation to ensure that the local communities adopt sustainable marine aquaculture methods and practices that are appropriate to local conditions.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan Thu, Head of the Aquaculture Division of the Khanh Hoa Department of Fisheries, Seas and Islands, presented Code of Conduct and Technical Protocol for Environmentally Friendly Aquaculture to be applied in the Van Hung co-management area.

Community members participating in the training actively exchanged views, engaged in discussions, and contributed feedback to further refine the Code of Conduct and Technical Protocol for implementation. The participants also agreed to select seven aquaculture households to pilot the Code of Conduct and Technical Protocol of Environmentally Friendly Aquaculture, to have a basis for lessons learned and consideration of wider adoption within the community in the future. At the end of the training course, the Organizing Committee awarded certificates of completion to all participants.

Representatives of Van Hung Commune participated in the training course and awarded certificates of completion.

The training not only helped enhance the technical capacity of the marine aquaculture community for Van Hung commune, but also reinforced the proactive role of local people in management and conservation of fisheries resources and protection of marine ecosystems. In response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2026, MCD is proud to support the local authorities and communities in advancing environmentally friendly marine aquaculture, contributing to blue economy development in Van Phong Bay.