On 27^th July 2016, in Hanoi, Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Ninh province organized training course on approaching marine management based on marine ecosystems and value chain. This activity is under the framework of the project: “Ha Long – Cat Ba Alliance: Local Engagement for Sustainable Development Project” – an initiative led by MCD in association with Pan Nature and CECR, funded by USAID.

The training course welcomed 32 representatives from Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Ninh, Economy Division and Management Board from The People’s Committee of Halong city, Quang Ninh Union of Science and Technology Associations, Agriculture and Aquaculture extension Centre of Quang Ninh, Quang Ninh Fisheries Society, Van Chai tourist service, and other project officers from CECR and MCD. There were also participants from Sub-department of Fisheries of Hai Phong.

Exchange of information on classes

Participants were provided with knowledge and later discussed about the overview and problems in marine and coastal resource management in Vietnam in general and in Quang Ninh province in particular. Simultaneously, under the guidance of Associate Professor Nguyen Chu Hoi (President of Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, former Vice President of Vietnam Administration of seas and islands), participants learnt definitions and principles of marine management method based on marine ecosystems and spatial planning as well as approaching to means of implementing these ideas. Attending the training course, there were also experts from Vietnam Institute of Fisheries economics and planning (VIFEP) along with International Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries sustainability (ICAFIS) to guide, discuss and sharing with participants about experiences and challenges in building, implementing and observing provincial saltwater aquaculture planning. Participants and experts also practiced analyzing general marine value chain and some Quang Ninh special sea products such as: Halong fried squid, oysters and groupers.

Group discussion

This training course is in a series of activities aimed at improving local abilities, encouraging local partners in multi-party and multidisciplinary cooperation in coastal resources management and develop sustainable aquaculture strategy, contribute to sustainable managing and exploiting World Natural Heritage Halong Bay and Catba Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.

Source: MCD Vietnam