Agreement on the seas: Opportunity for Vietnam

In the context of depletion of marine resources due to overexploitation, negative impacts of environmental pollution, climate change, etc., the Agreement on the High Seas is the first document to comprehensively regulate the conservation and sustainable use of marine genetic resources in international waters.

Strengthening cooperation and sharing benefits from marine genetic resources

Within the framework of the High-level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York (USA), on September 20, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son signed the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Marine Areas Beyond Jurisdiction (Agreement on the High Seas).

Vietnam is one of the first countries to sign the Agreement during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working visit to the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week. This sends a strong message that Vietnam is an active and responsible member of the international community, joining hands with countries around the world to solve global issues, contributing to peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

[caption id="attachment_440843" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son signed the Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Photo: VGP[/caption]

According to statistics, marine genetic resources are a new and potential resource, belonging to vast sea areas that occupy more than 60% of the surface area of ​​the oceans and do not belong to any country. Many areas on the ocean floor have particularly rich ecosystems, with many rare genes, of high value for scientific research and great economic potential, especially the ability to create drugs to treat serious diseases, produce pharmaceutical cosmetics, etc.

In the past, only developed countries and private companies with leading marine and biotechnology technologies, with abundant financial resources, were able to collect marine genetic resources and develop profitable applications, while there was no international document regulating the obligation to share benefits and conserve these resources. This Agreement is the first document to comprehensively regulate the conservation and sustainable use of marine genetic resources in international waters.

According to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, the Agreement opens up opportunities for Vietnam and other developing countries to participate in scientific research, transfer marine technology, and benefit economically from other countries with greater advantages in financial potential, science and technology, exploiting genetic resources in the open sea and sharing the benefits with us.

"This is especially meaningful in the context of the Vietnam Marine Economic Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, which identifies "Developing science and technology and training high-quality marine human resources" as one of the breakthroughs and key solutions to achieve the goal of "Vietnam becoming a strong maritime nation with sustainable development, prosperity, security and safety; the marine economy makes an important contribution to the national economy, contributing to building our country into a modern industrialized country with a socialist orientation," said Minister Bui Thanh Son.

He also stated that the Agreement creates and encourages international cooperation mechanisms and regional maritime cooperation with the aim of conserving and sharing benefits from marine genetic resources. These are opportunities for Vietnam to promote cooperation, enhance intertwined interests, and contribute to protecting the Fatherland from early on and from afar.

Vietnam participated in the negotiation process from the beginning, and made substantial contributions to the contents related to capacity building, technology transfer, and the establishment of marine protected areas. This contributes to the realization of the vision of the Vietnam Marine Strategy on "actively and responsibly participating in solving international and regional issues related to the sea and ocean", implementing the policy of striving to play a "core, leading, and mediating role at multilateral forums of strategic importance to the country", stated in Directive 25 of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy to 2030.

What should Vietnam do to seize the opportunity?

After signing the Agreement on the High Seas, countries need to carry out ratification and approval procedures to officially become members of the Agreement. The Agreement will take effect 120 days after 60 countries become members.

[caption id="attachment_440845" align="aligncenter" width="768"] The agreement on the sea brings many opportunities for Vietnam. Photo: tainguyenvamoitruong.vn[/caption]

Speaking to the press, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Member of the 15th National Assembly, former Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, said that during this time, Vietnam needs to continue raising awareness for the entire political system and the entire society to find the highest consensus on this issue. It is also necessary to maintain the "enthusiasm" and experience from the negotiation process to truly turn international commitments into actions at the national level, "promise to do" to enhance Vietnam's international position and prestige in the global ocean world, worthy of being a maritime nation.

In addition, relevant ministries, sectors, organizations and localities must prepare plans (scenarios) to actively and proactively participate in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in sea areas beyond national jurisdiction in the East Sea and on the high seas.

Mr. Hoi also recommended that Vietnam should properly assess the situation of the 5-year implementation of Resolution 36 on sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal No. 14. In addition, it is necessary to speed up the progress of the project to establish the National Research Center for Ocean Technology as well as develop the ocean fishing industry with an organized, strong and modern seagoing team.

It is necessary to prevent, repel and gradually eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) towards sustainable and responsible fisheries development. It is necessary to focus on training a team of officials in marine management and marine science and technology with sufficient knowledge, experience and skills to solve and advise on issues stipulated in the High Seas Treaty. In addition, it is necessary to boldly apply "strong" measures to transform from small, traditional fisheries to commercial fisheries in the direction of industrialization, modernization, and high international integration potential.