Releasing fish fingerlings to regenerate the Gulf of Tonkin's aquatic resources

On May 18, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) collaborated with the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee to host a ceremony to release fish fingerlings in order to regenerate aquatic resources in the Gulf of Tonkin in 2022.

Due to regulations on the prevention of Covid-19, Vietnam and China agreed to hold the ceremony in the form of a broadcast, with speeches delivered by the Chinese MARA's representative and the Chinese Embassy's representative.

In 2017, the Minister of MARD and the Minister of MARA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in releasing and preserving aquatic resources in the Gulf of Tonkin. 

Since 2017, the two parties have undertaken four joint release activities in the Gulf of Tokin. Nonetheless, as a result of the effects of Covid-19, this year marks the first time that the two countries hold the ceremony to restore aquatic resources simultaneously in the seas of their respective Gulfs of Tonkin.

In Vietnam, releasing fingerlings to develop aquatic resources is an annual activity carried out at the local level nationwide with a focus on the Fisheries Industry's National Day (April 1).

To regenerate aquatic resources in 2022, Vietnam is expected to release 53 million heads and 150,000 kg of aqua seeds into natural water regions. The release includes various endangered, rare, and economically valuable aquatic species, including Jullien's golden carp, chitala chitala, barbonymus altus, bagridae, spinibarbichthys denticulatus, epinephelus episticus, giant tiger prawn, and green crab. In the first four months of 2022, Vietnam released a total of 36 million heads and 60,000 kg of various types of aqua seeds.

During the event, delegates released about 8 million seeds of high economic value, such as giant tiger prawn, green crab, garrupa, and perciformes.

This activity helps the restoration, regeneration, and development of aquatic resources and fisheries in the Gulf of Tonkin. It also strengthens collaboration between the two Ministries and the people of the two nations.

During the event, MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien proposed that the two countries promote cooperation in the field of protecting and developing aquatic resources for the common growth of aquatic resource in the Gulf of Tonkin and in the agro-fisheries sector. He tasked the accountable parties for the implementation of the MoU with summarizing and reevaluating the outcomes in two phases, 2017-2019 and 2020-2022, as well as formulating concrete plans for the later phases.

From Mong Cai to Ha Long, the province of Quang Ninh boasts a 250-kilometer-long coastline and a 6,000-square-meter-square sea surface with many bays. An airtight area stretches from Mong Cai to Ha Long. The ecology of the Sea of Quang Ninh is valuable for scientific research, preservation, tourism, and service development due to its diverse topography, bottom material, and living creatures.

Due to its geopolitical position, Quang Ninh also plays a significant role; it shares 118,825 kilometers of land border and 191 kilometers of sea border with China. Mong Cai International Bordergate, three border economic regions, and four seaports have contributed to Quang Ninh's development as a hub for transferring commodities in North to Chinese and international markets.

These are excellent potential and strengths, laying the premise for Quang Ninh's fisheries to become the province's primary economic sector, while significantly contributing to the growth of its agriculture industry.

In 2021, the added value of the fishery economy at a fixed price reached VND 3,700 billion, accounting for 2.6% of Quang Ninh's GRDP and 51% of the local agricultural industry's GRDP, with an annual growth rate of 6-8%; production value at fixed price reached VND 6,196 billion, accounting for 45.3% of the total agro-forestry-fishery production value of the province; and over 50,000 jobs were created.