On 29 July 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision No. 911/QD-TTg approving the National Plan on environmental protection in fisheries and aquaculture in the period 2021 - 2030.
The National plan was developed on the cooperation between the Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Programme (MCRP) implemented by GIZ and the Directorate of Fisheries (D-FISH) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The objective of the plan is to control and prevent pollution in fisheries activities; prevent and handle environmental incidents; protect and develop aquatic resources and living environment to prevent biodiversity loss; improve capacity for climate change adaptation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions; develop models of circular economy and green economy in fisheries and aquaculture activities for the environment protection and sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
The National plan will be an important legal basis to end the use of toxic chemicals in aquaculture by 2030, towards environmentally friendly and sustainable production. Pollution sources, wastes from fisheries and aquaculture activities are investigated, assessed, managed and controlled to stop polluting water sources and prevent biodiversity degradation.
One of the new points in the National plan on environmental protection in fisheries and aquaculture is to encourage the application of production, at the same time protect the environment and restore important ecosystems for aquatic resources (mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, etc.). Especially, the circular economy and green economy models in the seafood value chain are studied, applied and gradually replicated.