Action plan for the management and conservation of marine fauna in Vietnam for the period 2024-2028

Action plan for the management and conservation of marine fauna in Vietnam for the period 2024-2028 (Image from the internet)

On May 08, 2024, Hanoi issued Decision 1287/QD-BNN-KN regarding the Action plan for the management and conservation of marine fauna in Vietnam for the period 2024-2028.

Action plan for the management and conservation of marine fauna in Vietnam for the period 2024-2028

The tasks outlined in the Action plan for the management and conservation of marine fauna in Vietnam for the period 2024-2028 are as follows:

(1) Complete and implement regulations on the management, conservation, and protection of marine mammals.

• Review, develop, and issue legal documents related to the protection and conservation of marine mammals in accordance with international treaties that Vietnam has committed to, ensuring effectiveness as required by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

• Develop and issue economic-technical norms for the rescue and storage of marine mammal specimens; Issue technical procedures for the rescue of marine mammal species.

• Develop plans and organize activities, coordinate actions between marine law enforcement forces in inspection, patrol, and monitoring of exploitation, purchase, sale, transportation, and processing activities to prevent violations affecting marine mammals.

• Establish and operate a network of rescue facilities for endangered, rare, and precious aquatic species, particularly marine mammals.

(2) Research, investigate, organize rescues, and collect data on marine mammal species.

• Collect information from fishing logs that record encounters with marine mammals, pilot establishment of observer systems on fishing vessels to gather data.

• Investigate and evaluate resources, determine distribution areas, breeding seasons, breeding areas, and migration characteristics. From there, determine the impact of unintended marine mammal exploitation and propose appropriate conservation and management measures.

• Organize fishery monitoring activities on fishing vessels, primarily focusing on purse seine, gillnet, and trawl fisheries, which have high unintended marine mammal catch rates.

• Research safe, effective, and marine mammal-friendly fishing techniques and transfer fishing technology to minimize unintended marine mammal catches.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of using dolphin deterrents in different fishery types, aiming to generalize and widely apply them to enhance fishery efficiency and protect dolphins.

• Establish and operate a rescue network for marine mammals and sea turtles, and more broadly for endangered, rare, and precious aquatic species.

• Develop and synchronize a database from the central to local levels on marine mammals, and a database on the export and import of aquatic species impacting marine mammal resources to support the management and protection of these species.

(3) Raise awareness amongst coastal fishing communities, the general public, and businesses about marine mammal conservation.

• Develop specialized documents on Vietnam's marine mammals to support scientific research and the implementation of related legal regulations; Create quick identification guides for marine mammals to aid in knowledge dissemination to fishermen.

• Develop educational materials on marine mammal conservation and encourage their dissemination in schools of all levels, protected areas, national parks, coastal communities, and marine tourist sites.

• Produce scientific communication materials targeting the general public, such as documentary films, leaflets, posters, photographs, and reference books on marine mammals and their habitats.

• Organize workshops, training sessions, and awareness-raising activities for scientific staff, management officials, customs officers, border guards, fisheries inspectors, environmental police, market management personnel, and journalists to enhance their capabilities and meet actual requirements in enforcing legal regulations and CITES provisions.

• Disseminate Vietnam's regulations, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, international treaties, and regional fisheries organizations' rules to which Vietnam is a member or has cooperative agreements on marine mammal protection.

• Organize training sessions, awareness campaigns, and communication events to raise public and societal awareness about the importance of conserving and developing marine mammal resources; Revive traditional whale worship festivals and related cultural practices to promote unique community traditions and beliefs in some localities.

More details can be found in Decision 1287/QĐ-BNN-KN, effective from May 8, 2024.

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