Workshop "Building a model of fisheries extension and empowering co-management to protect aquatic resources"

BTO-As part of a series of activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the traditional day of the Vietnamese Fisheries Industry, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated with the Center for Fisheries Development in the Gulf of Tonkin to organize a workshop on "Building a model of fisheries extension to empower co-management and protection of aquatic resources in Ham Thuan Nam" at the People's Committee of Tan Thuan commune.

Attending the event were Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, leaders of the Center for Fisheries Development in the Gulf of Tonkin, representatives of the Vietnam Seafarming Association (VSA); leaders of the Department of Fisheries, the Provincial Fisheries Association, related associations, leaders of Ham Thuan Nam district and 50 members of the Association of Fishermen's Communities of 3 coastal communes of Tan Thuan, Tan Thanh, Thuan Quy.

At the workshop, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Center Pham Kim Thanh reported the results of the consultation investigation of 3 fishing community associations that are implementing the co-management model. The advantages of these 3 community associations are that they are regularly trained, propagated, and guided by the State's legal policies, helping members to be more aware of selective fishing and exploitation. At the same time, they are supported by the State from projects and programs such as: Support for razor clam seeds (UNDP project and the Department of Fisheries), support for compensation in important locations of the managed sea area (Thien Tam fund), lighting program at sea (Phap Luat Newspaper), improved palm tree model of the Agricultural Extension Center... However, there is no aquaculture model to support the community associations, guidance on creating long-term livelihoods; there are no programs to regenerate resources, zoning and management of zoning areas.

Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Center Pham Kim Thanh reported the survey results at the workshop.

In addition, the representative of the Center for Fisheries Development in the Gulf of Tonkin also assessed and analyzed the current status of natural factors, environment, and aquatic resources in the sea area under co-management. From there, there were proposals to delimit the regeneration and exploitation areas combined with resource protection.

This is the time when razor clams in the co-management area are spawning.

Delegates attending the workshop discussed and proposed many ideas with the hope of being able to implement an aquaculture model with valuable economic objects such as razor clams, green mussels, snails, and scallops. At the same time, protecting the environment and ecosystem in the sea area assigned to co-management by measures of releasing artificial reefs combined with sand to create habitats for seafood species, thereby helping to create sustainable livelihoods for the community in the area.

After the workshop, some delegates went on a field trip to Tan Thanh sea area.

This sea area is especially home to many cockles, blood cockles, and green mussels.

After the workshop, experts, scientists , and consulting team conducted a field survey of the area where co-management of aquatic resources protection is being implemented in Tan Thanh commune, where Hon Lan cape is located, a reef area with a lot of green mussels. In particular, this sea area has razor clams and blood cockles, but they are exploited by trawlers, which greatly affects other occupations of the people.

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