Hanoi (VNS/VA) - Deep underwater surveys will help develop Vietnam’sfishing industry.

That was the message from Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the Directorateof Fisheries, who acknowledges the country was lacking in deep water andecosystem data.

He was speaking at the seminar themed "An ecosystem-based approach forsustainable marine fisheries and biodiversity in Vietnam" held in Hanoi onFebruary 26.

The seminar’s aim was to focus on the investigation and exploration ofbiological resources in deep waters.

In the past, Vietnam lagged behind in data collection because of a lack ofmodern exploration equipment, ships and vehicles.

Hung told the seminar there was a large amount of funding available to carryout such surveys.

Nguyen Khac Bat, Director of the Institute of Seafood Research said marineresources were diverse and abundant, with a wide range from coastal waters tothe high seas and deep sea.

“The marine fishery sector plays an important role in socio-economicdevelopment. Fishing has created livelihoods for millions of people,” he said.

“However, today, along with the development of fisheries and mining technology,the pressure of exploitation on high-economic valuable fishery resources andmany species are over-exploited.”

Reducing fishing pressure was necessary to balance activities and resourceresilience, he said.

At the seminar, coorganised by Newton Fund of UK, and Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development’s Institute of Seafood Research, the director said theinstitute had proposed a project "Survey marine biological resources indeep water in Vietnam" to MARD.

The project aims to investigate biological diversity, environmental andoceanographic characteristics in the country’s deep-sea waters, and exploringnew markets for the industry.

It will also provide scientific information for adjusting marine fishingactivities from coastal waters to offshore and deep-sea waters.

The project will carry out a deep-sea survey to assess the current status ofbiodiversity in deep-sea areas, including groups of organisms on the bottom andupper layer, assessing the abundance of marine sources.

It will also provide scientific information for offshore activities; study andpropose appropriate fishing equipment for deep-waters exploitation.

The project is expected to be implemented in 2020 with the main funding sourcesfrom Official Development Assistance (ODA) and from the Vietnamese Governmentand non-governmental organizations. - VNS/VNA