Vietnam is speeding up national marine spatial planning (MSP) for 2021-2030 and vision to 2045 under the support by the World Bank.

Part of Ha Long Bay. Photo: Zing

The move is aimed to tap marine resources for economic development, environmental protection, and national defense, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan said at a workshop held in Hanoi on April 16.

He said the planning contributes to developing the marine economy based on the conservation of biodiversity and marine ecosystems and making full use of advantages of sea and islands.

Vietnam is a maritime country. Its coastal and marine economy contributes about 22-30% of the national GDP, according to the World Bank.

The country’s marine activities include marine transport, oil and gas, mineral extraction, tourism, fishing, aquaculture and renewable energy - and all of these uses need space, resulting in increased use conflicts in the context of multi-use of the sea.

Millions of Vietnamese people are relying on coastal resources for their livelihoods, but they are increasingly at risk due to dwindling marine resources and growing environmental problems.

Vietnam has passed Law of the Sea of Vietnam (2012), for marine environmental resources (2015).

So far, the World Bank has supported the plan making of national MSP.