Desire to implement a co-management model to protect aquatic resources

The co-management model for protecting aquatic resources in Ham Thuan Nam district has been successful beyond expectations, showing that the implementation of co-management has had a positive impact and has spread widely to other coastal localities. Phu Quy has been proposed as one of the 16 marine protected areas in the country, so the desire to implement a co-management model is obvious.

Early deployment in island districts

The coastal area of ​​Phu Quy Island has many favorable natural factors, so it has formed many typical ecosystems. Biological resources and ecosystem diversity here are great potentials for developing the fisheries industry, tourism services... creating important advantages for the economic development of Phu Quy district in particular and Binh Thuan province in general. Recognizing the importance of biodiversity and marine resources here, in 1995, Phu Quy was proposed to build a marine reserve. After that, Phu Quy was included in the list of 16 marine reserves proposed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (former) in 1998. By 2021, the project "Establishing Phu Quy Marine Reserve" continued to be implemented and was approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for its detailed task outline and budget. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the consulting unit (Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography) to survey and establish the project and held a workshop to collect public opinions in Phu Quy district, the majority of people agreed to respond. However, up to now, due to many different reasons, Phu Quy Marine Protected Area has not been established and put into operation.

A corner of Phu Quy island district (photo: N. Lan)

In recent years, Phu Quy, like other coastal localities, is facing the risk of increasingly declining resources and polluted marine ecosystems, caused by uncontrolled seafood exploitation activities, along with impacts from aquaculture, marine tourism, construction and development of sea dyke and seaport infrastructure, urbanization and the impact of climate change. In addition, the solution to establish marine protected areas is facing obstacles, so developing and applying co-management is the most appropriate.

In recent years, many coastal provinces and cities have applied the co-management model in coastal waters with high efficiency. As one of the first provinces to implement the co-management model in the country, it was first implemented in Tuy Phong in 2012 with the co-management model of scallop resources. By 2018, 3 coastal communes in Ham Thuan Nam district had gradually formed and built according to the model of Fishermen's Community Association, which was highly successful. The Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee have also directed, built, developed, and expanded co-management to protect and restore aquatic resources, coastal ecosystems, and islands, associated with the livelihoods of fishing communities in other coastal localities in the province.

The model of the Fishermen Community Association in Ham Thuan Nam is considered very successful.

Protect diverse resources

Although the models still face many difficulties due to the lack of specific policies, unclear mechanisms, and lack of funding to maintain operations, the effectiveness of the co-management model is enormous. Through the Fishermen's Community Associations, the spirit of community solidarity is enhanced, promoting collective strength, mobilizing the participation of the government and organizations to join hands in protecting aquatic resources. Realizing that, coupled with the characteristics of the sea and islands, in order to ensure that the district's economic sectors use coastal marine space to develop harmoniously, effectively and sustainably, it is necessary to have reasonable and effective management methods for marine resources, including community-based management methods.

According to the proposal of the Economic - Financial Department of Phu Quy district, the co-management model should be implemented at 2 locations: Lach Du sea area in Long Hai and Tam Thanh communes and the sea area southeast of Hon Tranh. These 2 places have rich coral reef ecosystems, seagrass beds and squid spawning grounds that need to be protected. Through the survey, the subjects participating in the model will be organizations and individuals engaged in aquaculture, fisheries exploitation, service activities, tourism related to aquatic resources and marine ecosystems. Therefore, to ensure diverse, abundant and sustainable marine resources in the future along with the process of socio-economic development, urbanization and population growth, it is necessary to have appropriate policies and management measures to protect the marine ecosystem here.

Lach Du marine aquaculture area belongs to Long Hai and Tam Thanh communes.

According to the 2017 Fisheries Law, co-management is a management method in which the State shares authority and responsibility with community organizations participating in the management of aquatic resources protection. Through co-management, social resources will be strongly mobilized for the protection, conservation and development of aquatic resources in an effective manner; exploiting the values ​​of marine resources more effectively and sustainably to serve the economic and social benefits of the people. Thereby, contributing to improving livelihoods, creating jobs, increasing income, raising living standards for fishing communities and contributing to maintaining security and national defense in coastal localities.

There must be appropriate policies and management measures to protect the marine ecosystem here (photo: N. Lan)

It is known that the project to establish Phu Quy Marine Protected Area is the second project of Binh Thuan province, before that Hon Cau Marine Protected Area (Tuy Phong district) has been in operation since 2011.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/phu-quy-mong-muon-thuc-hien-mo-hinh-dong-quan-ly-bao-ve-nguon-loi-thuy-san-118217.html