On March 18, 2021, the Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) in collaboration with the Directorate of Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Dinh Province held a kick-off workshop of the project “Supporting Vietnamese Fisheries reform under the Fisheries Law 2017: from national to local action” in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province.  

The project is executed by MCD from January 2021 to August 31, 2023 in Binh Dinh province and extended the practice of sharing lessons in Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa provinces with the sponsorship of Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors (RPA) from USA through the Ocean 5 program.

The project’s objectives are to implement and scale up the practice of co-management in the protection of fisheries resources in the Central Coast region; building capacity for partners at central and local level to develop the National Fisheries Resource Protection and Development Program; provide technical assistance to the implementation of strategy for co-management, contributing to the improvement and development of sustainable fisheries.

Figure 1. Cooperation in co-management of aquatic resources

The workshop provided information about the Project with initiatives from central to local levels, clarifying the role of stakeholders and the coordination mechanism for co-management in fisheries resources protection. Participants discussed and agreed on an action plan and strengthened the cooperation among stakeholders in the protection and development of aquatic resources in the Central Coast region.

Attending the workshop were 40 delegates from central units: General Directorate of Fisheries, Vietnam Institute of Fisheries Economic and Planning; Binh Dinh province: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Tourism, Sub-Department of Fisheries, Quy Nhon City People’s Committee, People’s Committees of Nhon Ly, Nhon Hai, Nhon Chau, Ghenh Rang communes, Quy Nhon City Economic Zone Management Board, Hiep Fisheries Association of Binh Dinh Province; Khanh Hoa province: Fisheries Sub-Department, People’s Committee of Van Ninh district, Community Team of Ran Trao; Quang Nam province: Fisheries Department, Tam Tien Commune People’s Committee, Nui Thanh District, Cu Lao Cham MPA Management Board, Bai Huong Management Team; Representatives of MCD Center, consultants and other related units.

The workshop, representatives of state management agencies and local stakeholders shared practices on fisheries resources protection and development suitable for their local natural and social conditions; the results, lessons learned related to co-management at their sites; collaboration on project implementation plan, and experiences exchange.

Representative of the Directorate of Fisheries said that Co-management in the protection of fisheries resources is a method of fisheries management that has been officially regulated in Article 10 of the Fisheries Law 2017 and Decree No. 26/2019 / ND-CP dated March 8, 2019 by the Government. Fisheries sector is in the process of developing and organizing the implementation of the National Program on Aquatic Resource Protection and Development (2021-2030) and the Program of Implementing Co-management in the Protection of Aquatic Resources. Initiatives from the Project can contribute lessons and practical experiences in a timely manner to the process of advising, promulgating and organizing the implementation of sustainable development policies for the fisheries sector in the coming time.

Firgue 2. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director General, Department of Fisheries Conservation and Development, Directorate of Fisheries

Ms. Nguyen Thu Hue, Director of MCD, said the project is very meaningful in realizing MCD mission of connecting stakeholders to support local communities to improve the quality of life and protect marine ecological environment. MCD believes that the project will be successful with the proactive and committed partners of fisheries resource management and protection at central and local levels.

The Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to marine conservation and community development. The project “Supporting Vietnamese Fisheries reform under the Fisheries Law 2017: from national to local action” proposed by MCD, was funded by Ocean 5 through the Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors (RPA) and implemented in collaboration with Department of Aquatic Resources Protection and Development, Directorate of Fisheries and Sub-Departments of Fisheries of the provinces: Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam and Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area Management Board.

The project supports the development and implementation of an adaptive fisheries management plan at demonstration sites with co-management in fisheries resource protection and development, with a focus on monitoring of fish stock and coral reef coverage; At the same time, supporting the development of the National Program for the Protection and Development of Fisheries Resources, the Scheme on the implementation of co-management in the protection of aquatic resources in order to enforce the Fisheries Law 2017, and strengthen the network of experts and co-management practice facilitators in the Central Coast region.

Information posted on mass media at: https://bitly.com.vn/roppgf

The Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) is a Vietnamese NGO established since 2003, pioneering marine ecosystem and environment conservation, striving for a sustainable coastal zone of Vietnam with healthy and safe environment, sustaiable ecosystems and good quality of life for its coastal communities, especially the most vulnerable.

For more information, please visit http://mcdvietnam.org/en/