Vietnam Seas and Island Week 2019 launched in Bac Lieu

Vietnam Seas and Island Week 2019 was officially launched at Hung Vuong Square in Bac Lieu city, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, on June 1, aimed at promoting environmental protection and sovereignty of the nation’s sea and islands among the community.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung (L) presents national flags and fishing nets to fishermen at the launch of Vietnam Seas and Island Week 2019 in Bac Lieu on June 1. (Photo: VGP)
Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung (L) presents national flags and fishing nets to fishermen at the launch of Vietnam Seas and Island Week 2019 in Bac Lieu on June 1. (Photo: VGP)

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On the occasion, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment together with Bac Lieu authorities also kicked off the National Action Month on Environmental Protection, in response to World Oceans Day (June 8) and World Environment Day (June 5).

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung stressed the need to protect the Earth under the serious challenges due to environmental pollution, climate change and sea level rise as well as the excessive and unsustainable exploitation of the ocean. Vietnam has a long coastline and is facing great challenges in solving environmental issues and sustainable development of marine economy.

Environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, saline intrusion, depletion of marine resources, and sea encroachment are directly threatening economic development and sustainable livelihoods for millions of people, especially disadvantaged groups.

“That fact requires all of us to make efforts to address the challenges that have been threatening the survival of the planet and our own,” Dung stated, calling for further international cooperation on environmental protection, coping with natural disasters and adapting to climate change and sea level rise, along with the sustainable management, use and conservation of sea and ocean.

In is also important to discover and replicate typical examples, models and good practices on efficient use of resources, biodiversity conservation and response to climate change and sustainable marine development, he added.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Dung presented 5,000 national flags, fishing nets made from environmentally friendly microbiological materials (produced and tested by An Phat Group) and emergency kits for fishermen in Bac Lieu.

The gifts are under the "One million national flags for fishermen", in order to support and encourage fishermen in 28 provinces and cities along the coast to head to the sea and join hands to assert national sovereignty over the sea and islands, launched by Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer) Newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City.