Picture for illustration purposes only. (Source: VNA) To effectively organize activities in response to “World Oceans Day, Vietnam Sea and Islands Week; On World Environment Day and Action Month for the Environment in 2021, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 19 propaganda slogans to widely spread the green message, contributing to the realization of the “double goal” – medium epidemic prevention and control, while protecting the environment and developing socio-economic. Information to reporters of VietnamPlus Online Newspaper on the afternoon of June 3, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said with the theme “Ocean: Life and Livelihood,” this year’s World Oceans Day (June 8). delivering a message highlighting the diversity of marine ecosystems, spreading the meaning of the ocean to human livelihoods and the living resources of species on Earth. Along with spreading the above message, Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2021 (from June 1 to 8) is also selected with the theme “Protecting oceans and sustainable development of marine livelihoods in Vietnam.” This is one of the goals set out to concretize the contents of the Government’s Resolution 26/NQ-CP on promulgating the Master Plan and the Government’s 5-year plan to implement Resolution No. 36-NQ. /TW of the Eighth Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee on the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy to 2030, with a Vision to 2045. To effectively implement response activities World Oceans Day , Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 9 propaganda slogans, including: Protecting the sovereignty of sea and islands is the responsibility and obligation of each citizen; join hands to contribute to the homeland sea and island; Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are always in our hearts; unite, take initiative in overcoming difficulties in maintaining Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands; Green economy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s seas and islands. The next slogan is to ensure people’s livelihood for sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy; take action for the sustainable development of oceans and marine ecosystems; sustainable development of the marine economy – no one is left behind; Protecting oceans from plastic is protecting our future. Picture for illustration purposes only. (Source: VNA) For World Environment Day and Action Month for the Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said that in 2021, the United Nations Environment Program chooses the theme of World Environment Day (June 5) as “Revival of the World Environment Day”. ecosystem recovery” with the message of gathering and solidarity to protect and revive ecosystems, for the benefit of people and nature. So, in response to the theme World Environment Day this year, implementing the United Nations’ commitment to Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), promoting activities to reverse the degradation of ecosystems and protect our country’s environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 10 main propaganda slogans such as: Living in harmony with nature – conservation of biodiversity; The Earth needs us! let’s unite against climate change; prevent and reverse the loss of biodiversity ecosystems. In particular, the slogans also aim to change behavior from small things such as: use utensils from recycled materials; fishing in the wrong way destroys the biological balance; using green raw materials is contributing to environmental protection; environmental pollution from the use of pesticides, single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags; rational use of biodiversity resources; biodiversity – life sustaining journey; act for nature – our responsibility. On that basis, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment called on ministries, departments, branches, central and local mass organizations, organizations and individuals to jointly come up with initiatives to restore Vietnam’s ecosystem at the same time. determined to act synchronously to implement the following solutions based on nature; building and implementing circular economy models, sustainable use and optimization of natural resources. At the local level, the locality needs to thoroughly solve the problems Environmental pollution from waste, garbage; collect waste on both sides and on sea water, rivers, streams, ponds and lakes, restore vegetation on wetlands; control fishing activities in a sustainable way; encouraging the implementation of environmental protection works, serving the interests of the community…/.

Cu Lao Cham Marine Sanctuary in Quang Nam. Tourism potential from white-necked langurs The white-necked langur was discovered by local people in 2012 on the limestone mountain in Thach Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district, Quang Binh province. Since then, thanks to the strict protection of functional forces and the coordination of residential communities and voluntary protection groups, the white-necked langur herd has grown in number. In 2018, the People’s Committee of Quang Binh province planned a part of the forest to become a special-use forest to balance the needs of conservation and exploitation. According to the survey results of the Center for Indigenous Knowledge Research and Development (CIRD) in collaboration with the Provincial Forest Protection Department, there are 22 herds and 156 white-necked langurs in 3 main areas: Dong Hoa commune, Thach Hoa and Thuan Hoa belong to Tuyen Hoa district. If before, you needed binoculars to see the langurs, now, the langurs are increasingly bold, with our naked eyes we can also look, watch them feed, play in the trees or on the rocks. craggy, according to a representative of the CIRD Center. The appearance of creatures listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world in this area has attracted many photographers, scientists and tourists to come here, creating opportunities for the development of various types of eco-tourism. Recently, Chairman of Thach Hoa Commune People’s Committee said that the locality is orienting to develop community tourism and experience tourism in order to change industries and improve incomes for people. people. Although people are still mainly engaged in agriculture, do not have much investment capital, plus difficulties due to epidemics, the potential for community-based tourism development associated with biodiversity is a long-term problem, helping to solve the problem of sustainable livelihoods for residents. Volunteer groups to protect the white-necked langurs in villages and communes will be oriented to become tour guides, helping guide people to learn, research, take photos, admire the white-necked langurs… Along with At that time, visitors can also combine sightseeing and experience with other destinations and events such as Tran Tao weapons factory (Dong Hoa commune), the grave and church of Admiral Le Truc (Tien Hoa commune), the cave. Len Ha (Thanh Hoa commune), Cau Ca Tang (Lam Hoa commune), boat racing festival in Tuyen Hoa district… In order to promote tourism potential in a sustainable way, local authorities pay special attention to continuing to promote the core role of voluntary conservation groups and local people. Lessons from Cham Island Recently, in the program “Honoring organizations and individuals; replicating advanced examples with many achievements contributing to wildlife conservation in the period 2010 – 2020″ organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Selection Council also recognized the initiatives and solutions. community contributes to improving the effectiveness of efforts of all levels, sectors and the whole society in species conservation. A sustainable tourism model based on biodiversity can be mentioned as the Museum of Marine Life on Cu Lao Cham Island, Tan Hiep Island Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. The marine reserve displays hundreds of fish with many different shapes, along with many rare specimens of shrimp, crab, turtle, marine coral … Worth mentioning, at first, the fishermen here just wanted to save samples and images of sea creatures to teach their children and grandchildren how to fish so that they can both profit from the sea and preserve the seed source for later. Gradually, these accumulations have created a unique ecological destination for this place, attracting many tourists to explore, paving the way for sustainable tourism. Accompanied by other cultural features such as Hai Tang pagoda, Champa ancient well, four heritage trees and the temple of nest craft. In addition to the service of diving to see corals and enjoying specialties of bird’s nest water, another highlight is a specimen of sea turtles over a hundred years old with intact dimensions on display. This is also part of the message conveyed to tourists and indigenous people: After many years of tourism exploitation, sea turtles are rarely found along the island, but tend to move to live and lay eggs on islands. small island. According to a representative of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, for many years now, fishermen on the island have been trained as a model of community tourism, saying no to plastic bags and plastic waste, accompanied by tasks of biodiversity conservation. learn. However, tourism development cannot avoid harming nature, landscapes and creatures, which requires greater responsibility from management agencies, travel agencies and visitors. However, the most important thing is the awareness of preserving and preserving nature of the local people. As nature and living things develop, their livelihoods based on such natural services will grow accordingly. Only when they understand that can they become enthusiastic propagandists, proactively guiding visitors to comply.

Since the establishment of the Hua Na hydropower reservoir, people in Thong Thu and Dong Van communes (Que Phong district) have had more fish cage farming (photo). Up to now, on this lake surface, there are about 80 households participating in raising 326 fish cages of all kinds; in which many species have high economic value such as sea bass, mackerel, climbing fish, beetle, carp … With the selling price of about 50,000 VND / kg of carp, 100,000 VND / kg of climbing fish, ladybug, 120,000 VND / kg of sea bass and fish has provided farmers with a high and stable income. Among the people who have succeeded in making a living on the reservoir of Hua Na hydroelectricity include Mr. Lang Van Mao from Tuc village (Dong Van commune). In addition to the model of raising fish cages, this Thai ethnic boy also accepts to zonize, plant and protect forests on a floating hill in the lake bed, combine raising pigs, chickens … bamboo) has given him an income of over 100 million VND / year. In addition, Mr. Mao also took a boat carrying tourists to take wedding photos, admire the lake scenery, serve food … earn more income. In addition, at the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir, there are about 338 fish cages currently raised by people in Luong Minh, Huu Khuong and Yen Na communes (Tuong Duong district). In addition to raising fish in cages in the lake bed, people also add fishing in the wild, setting up farms along the lake to raise goats, cows, pigs …

Open up livelihood opportunities Currently, the farming of sea cucumbers in Vietnam needs 20 million breeds of sea cucumbers, but in the country, it is only active about 1 million breeds of sea cucumbers to serve the needs of the farmers, while the white sea cucumber breeds have. 5 times the value of sand sea cucumber is still difficult. To study the breeding of white-breasted sea cucumber, Institute III collaborated with USC University to implement the project to improve production of high-value sea cucumber through molecular technology. Raising white-breasted sea cucumbers by cages in Van Ninh sea. With the use of a hormone produced at USC University, extracted from the nerves of the sea cucumber itself, then transplanted into yeast to multiply on a large scale in the laboratory, effectively stimulating reproduction. High and does not affect the health of white-breasted sea cucumber parents. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy – project manager said: Using hormones instead of traditional methods has stimulated the reproduction of white breasted sea cucumber successfully. The project has produced nearly 20,000 breeders for commercial experiments and breeding trials on cages in Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh with 3 households participating. Commercial white sea cucumber. Mr. Nguyen Duc Thoai (Dam Mon village, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district) raised white-breasted sea cucumber experiment on cages said, after 8 months of raising, from the breed with a weight of about 0.3 grams increased to gain amount of 60 grams, survival rate reached 92%. The successful production of white-breasted sea cucumber will open up opportunities to create livelihoods for aquaculture farmers in the province in the near future. Reduce natural extraction pressure According to the leaders of the Fisheries Department, the successful production of white sea cucumber will help diversify aquatic breeds, reduce the pressure of natural exploitation, especially serving the strategic direction of fisheries development of the province during the period. next time; At the same time, contributing to environmental protection … However, white sea cucumber is often distributed at a depth of tens of meters, so the stocking in cages at low depths, whether it really brings efficiency is required. specific reviews. In this regard, scientists believe that, before, white-breasted sea cucumber distributed a lot in shallow areas. However, due to the rarity and overexploitation, sea cucumbers have higher and higher depth distribution. Therefore, raising white-breasted sea cucumber in the cage is very positive, helping to improve the environment very well. Currently, the output of white-breasted sea cucumber is mainly purchased by Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company. “Products of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company 90% for export markets: Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and in the near future will expand markets in the US, China … Besides processing dried sea cucumber. , the company also produces products that consumers can slice using fresh. Currently, the company boosts purchasing in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen. The company can afford to buy products for white-breasted sea cucumber farmers, ”said Mr. Le Thanh Nhan – Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Sea cucumber Joint Stock Company. FLASH LA

Posts & photos: THUY THIEM Friday, April 9, 2021, 14:34 + | Print The joy of being full of fish. In the months from September to March of the lunar calendar every year, Bau Gun (An My commune, Tuy An district, Phu Yen) bustles with the sound of dams at night. Over a long period of exploitation with environmental “complications”, people began to wish to preserve the lagoon as their livelihood. Job “chicks” feed through the day Bau Gun is a freshwater lagoon with immense lilies. With an area of ​​2.5 km², there is also a job here “chirping” fishing in the Bau. Each end of the year, in the September of lunar calendar, heavy rains pouring in from high places create the floating water season in Bau Gun. That is when the cocoons of caviar and snail eggs still buried in the mud, clinging to the grass tops are proliferating and proliferating. This is also the fishing season for people living in villages bordering on Bau such as Hoa Da village, Giai Son village, Phu Long village, Phu Hoa village. People fish in the plain with many different tools, depending on the type of fish catching, they have suitable fishing methods and times. Some tools can be mentioned as fish net, ignoring fish to lure, net to grab snails or a bamboo that locals call it to lure shrimp, crab … In order to get fresh and delicious fish, the farmer had to do a lot of work from preparing the fishing equipment to removing the fish from the net to be intact. In the past, to make a net, it took three to four days to complete. From the work of buying freight and weaving into a net, boiling boiling water through the net, then floating boats, lead pairs, each stage requires perseverance and meticulousness. But now that is better, there are ready-made fish nets on the market with reasonable prices. Doing this job, regardless of time, sometimes goes out and pulls the net two or three times a day. Those who work for a long time will have experience and know the direction of the water flow, when the fish runs to keep track of the time and place of fishing. At 1 am, when everyone was still asleep, Uncle Le Van Muoi (59 years old, Hoa Da village, An My commune) started a new job with fish nets on an old daily boat. This boat has been with me for several seasons of floating water and is my best friend on Bau Gun. Not only uncle, in that time frame, in the quiet night, we can hear the boats gliding on the water very clearly, asking each other: “So early today, uncle Muoi”, “Today Is it okay, Mr. Tu ”. At this moment, there are more and more lights, people, splashing water, fish fluttering in the cabin. Everyone was quick and hurried, looking forward to more fish in time for the first day of the market. White fish nets were pulled back at four o’clock in the morning, under a light in the middle of the yard, the uncle Muoi and his wife carefully removed each fish so that they were intact for sale at a high price. And the fresh tilapia, swimming in the brass. “The story of the bird, water fish is difficult to say, some days are many, some days are less. Everyday, we can sell 200 thousand dong only, some days we get a few dozen ”, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, wife of Uncle Muoi. Find a way to recover Field fishing in Bau Gun is considered a traditional profession every time the water season returns. The people following this profession are mostly men, after finishing farming, they prepare for a season of fishing to earn extra income. Because every water level comes back, Bau Gun has many fish and shrimp such as anabas, crayfish, catfish, trout, catfish, shrimp, crab, and snails, just fishing is enough for everyone to have a meal. delicious rice, bold home taste. What is more wonderful, after hard working hours, everyone has time to gather with the family rice tray, enjoy sweet cooked crayfish, add tomatoes, a few slices of chili, the aroma of seasoning vegetables. Adding a plate of water lily next to it is nothing. But in recent years, the number of fish and snails on the Bau gun has decreased significantly. Some types of high economic value such as crustaceans, snails, snails, black snails gradually disappear. That is a sign that the sneaky use of “electric batteries” in the fishing process, the destructive fishing style has greatly affected the reproduction and breeding of these types of aquatic products. In addition, the use of agrochemicals in the cultivation process at Bau Gun in the past is also one of the reasons for the egg cancer of aquatic species remaining in the mud, plants. Wishing to restore an old gun, some people are looking for ways to rebuild lost aquatic breeds by catching, farming, and buying seeds from other places to breed for breeding. . At the same time limit the use of agricultural chemicals to protect aquatic resources, step by step maintain traditional jobs here.

After sunset in Jaffna, Anthony Vigrado dived into the waters of Palk Bay to catch sea cucumbers – a prickly skin creature that has grown in value and has been his main source of income for the past 12 years.

But after 10 hours of searching, what he got is a fraction of what he used to be. The reason is that sea cucumbers have been extensively exploited in the northern coasts of Sri Lanka and southern India.

Treasures of the sea

“Illegal fishermen are fishing illegally in the places where we often dive for sea cucumbers. We are losing income and a livelihood for them, ”said the 31-year-old fisherman.

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms with a soft, tubular body resembling a vegetable of the same name. Photo: Guardian.

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms with a soft, tubular body resembling a vegetable of the same name. They are an unusual animal but play an important role in the marine ecosystem. When they eat debris in sediments, they regenerate nutrients and excrete nitrogen, ammonia and calcium carbonate – components that make up coral reefs. Sea cucumber also helps slow ocean acidification due to human activity.

The demand for sea cucumbers is huge in China and Southeast Asian countries, where they are processed into delicious dishes and used in traditional remedies. Dried sea cucumber is called calche-de-mer or trepang. They are also considered by many, especially China, an aphrodisiac.

This has made the sea cucumber trade become “super profitable”. Therefore, this animal is in danger of extinction. In the 1980s, sea cucumber was priced below 70 USD / kg, now the price has increased to more than 270 USD / kg. The rare species cost up to nearly 3,500 USD / kg.

Over the years, sea cucumbers in Palk Bay and Mannar Bay are overfished. For the most expensive species, the number of individuals has dropped by more than 60% globally.

Fishermen harvested sea cucumbers caught on Mannar Bay. Photo: Guardian.

Now, this tiny tropical island has become a hotspot for smuggling and illegal sea cucumber fishing. Like Vigrado, more than 10,000 fishing families living along Sri Lanka’s north coast are anxious about their livelihoods.

Chamari Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Sri Jayewardenepura University in Sri Lanka, said: “The number of sea cucumbers is plummeting due to overfishing. It affects the biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal fishermen who have long depended on this profession ”.

Vigrado said many illegal fishing boats damaged the facilities and equipment of local fishermen to catch sea cucumbers, causing some people to commit suicide because they could not pay the debt.

“They are grabbing everything”

AM Stanny Lambert, a 31-year-old fisherman from Vankalai in Mannar, said he was sad and angry at these crimes.

“It was unethical and we were stuck, because they were doing everything in front of us,” he said. Lambert and his father have been licensed to fish for 11 years and are the breadwinner of the family.

Most reported offenses take advantage of different regulations from neighboring countries. While Sri Lanka issued fishing permits and permits the export of sea cucumbers, India has completely banned all trade in these animals since 2001.

As a result, sea cucumbers are illegally caught in India and smuggled into Sri Lanka, where they are legally exported to Southeast Asia, or exported from India under fake labels.

Marine animal protection forces in Lakshadweep Islands, India seized 486 sea cucumbers died in March 2021. Photo: Lakshadweep Forest Management Board.

In August 2020, three men were caught smuggling nearly 1,000 kg of sea cucumber from Tamil Nadu in India to Sri Lanka via Mannar Bay. The Indian Coast Guard priced these sea cucumbers to nearly $ 700,000 in the international market. A similar case was reported in March 2021.

Teale Phelps Bondaroff, research director at OceansAsia, an organization that recently mapped sea cucumber arrests and seizures in the two countries, said: “If you have a legitimate market near a market, illegal, legal markets will become huge “fish wash” dens.

Exhausted

For many years, the Sri Lankan and Indian authorities have worked to combat this type of marine crime. But the growing number of arrests shows that illegal trade is spreading to areas that have never been affected before.

Nowadays, as the value of animals is increasing, exploitation is also becoming more common. Great demand for sea cucumbers has led to deadly violence in Mexico, related to yakuza criminal organizations in Japan, and smuggling between Tanzania and Zanzibar.

According to OceansAsia, the network of organized sea cucumber fishing and smuggling criminals is spreading from the Palk Bay and Mannar Bay into untapped areas of the Lakshadweep alliance, an archipelago off the west coast. South India.

Wild island of Suheli in Lakshadweep. Photo: Guardian.

In the largest recorded arrest, disclosure from local fishermen in February 2020 helped authorities find 1,716 sea cucumbers worth nearly $ 580,000 hidden in nearby coral reefs. Suheli deserted island.

“Resource depletion may be the main reason these people are looking for new locations. Lakshadweep is still pristine, which may be why merchants moved there, ”said Sajan John, head of the Marine Projects and Policy Management Unit at Wildlife Trust of India.

Realizing the seriousness of the crime of selling sea cucumbers, the local government reacted strongly. In February 2020, the world’s first sea cucumbers conservation area was established in Lakshadweep, anti-theft bases were established across the islands and Lakshadweep Sea cucumber Protection Task Force was established. established with the help of the Central Bureau of Investigation of India.

A batch of 416 dead sea cucumbers was seized on a deserted island off Perumal in Lakshadweep in March 2021. Photo: Lakshadweep Forest Management Board.

“The people of Lakshadweep understand the importance of sea cucumber because their livelihood depends on fishing. When sea cucumbers are affected, other fisheries are also affected, ”said Sivakumar Kuppusamy, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Wildlife.

But as the majority of illegally-caught and trafficked sea cucumbers continue to be smuggled into Sri Lanka, Kuppusamy agrees that while it is important to stop this illegal supply chain, educate the fighters. Illegally catching sea cucumbers correctly appreciates the importance of this animal is also important to protect them.

“We have to convince them of the role of sea cucumber in the ecosystem. Without sea cucumbers, they are jeopardizing the sea, ”he said. “That’s when they begin to realize that their livelihoods and their children’s futures will be affected.”

“Break that illegal supply chain and convince the fishermen – we have to do both. If not, this business will continue to grow ”.

The strange movement of a flying snake Some snakes are able to climb trees and “fly” from branch to branch with deliberate jumps. Scientists are investigating what makes them do that.