Experts from conservation areas and research institutes propose contents and solutions to minimize and eventually prevent unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and marine mammals in Vietnam.
On December 22, in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, the Fisheries Inspection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in collaboration with Humane Society International in Vietnam organized “Consultation workshop on Review Report policy to develop a Plan to reduce unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and marine mammals in Vietnam.”
Delegates from the Fisheries Department of several provinces and cities nationwide, conservation area management boards, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations attended the conference.
At the seminar, the Fisheries Department provided information about equivalent requirements of the US Marine Mammal Protection Law affecting the Vietnamese fisheries industry. Report reviewing regulations and policies to develop a plan to reduce bycatch of sea turtles and marine mammals in Vietnam.
Experts from conservation areas, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations propose content and solutions to minimize and eventually prevent unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and mammals. sea in Vietnam.
Director of the Department of Fisheries Surveillance Nguyen Quang Hung said that incidental exploitation of aquatic species by fishing gear is considered one of the main threats to the profitability and sustainability of fisheries, as well as as for marine biodiversity.
Every year, around the world, at least 7.3 million tons of marine life are caught unintentionally, and in many places the number of unintentional catches is even greater than the number of caught species. Species that are frequently caught bycatch include sharks/sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.
These are protected species groups. Bycatch harms individuals, contributes to population declines, and hinders the recovery of vulnerable species.
International regulations such as: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, Convention on Biological Diversity Conservation, CITES Convention, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Decisions of the Mid-West Pacific Fisheries Organization; The United States Marine Mammal Protection Act… requires the reduction of unintentional exploitation of endangered, precious, and rare aquatic species as mandatory regulations for member states.
According to the Director of the Department of Fisheries Surveillance, in Vietnam today, unintentional exploitation of rare and endangered species protected by law such as marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks/sharks, and rays is a problem. complex and has not received much attention from managers, fishing communities and domestic scientists.
Regulations to protect endangered, precious and rare aquatic species mainly stop at banning active exploitation, establishing marine protected areas, aquatic resource protection zones, and areas where aquatic exploitation is prohibited. within a year to protect aquatic resources in general and protect endangered, precious and rare aquatic species in particular.
Ms. Tham Thi Hong Phuong, Country Director of Humane Society International in Vietnam, shared that Vietnam is a country with small-scale fisheries with multi-occupation and multi-species exploitation, so unintentional exploitation of aquatic species is common. Endangered, precious, and rare products can occur frequently.
This is one of the causes leading to a decline in resources, affecting Vietnam’s seafood export trade. Therefore, develop and organize the implementation of plans to minimize unintentional exploitation of endangered, precious and rare aquatic species; which focuses on groups of sea turtles, marine mammals, and sharks/rays that play a very important role in protecting aquatic resources and meeting international requirements and bilateral and multilateral cooperation. in which Vietnam is a member country or is not yet a member but is cooperating.
Recently, the Fisheries Department has chaired and coordinated with Humane Society International in Vietnam to take the first steps in developing a plan to reduce unintentional exploitation of sea turtles and marine mammals. , sharks, and rays through the development of a report reviewing current policies and regulations in Vietnam, experience and international requirements in minimizing unintentional exploitation of this species group to move forward. develop a national plan in 2024./