Initial achievements
That comment was made by Professor Dr Le Duc To from Hanoi National University, Chair of the Program on Sea Science and Technology Research for Socio-economic Development (Program KC09/06-10).
In order to master the treasure well and take full advantage of it, Vietnam needs to learn more about it. However, Vietnam has not made appropriate investments of money and time to the work.
“What Vietnam has done so far is learn what the East Sea has,” To said. “For example, in past years, we found more than 200 fish species in the Gulf of Tonkin. But now we know that there are up to 600 fish species”.
“There are endemic species which only exist in the Gulf of Tonkin. There are also precious herbs for medicine,” he continued.
Vietnam has also conducted research projects relating to the continental shelf, tectonics and biology.
Within the framework of the sea research program, Professor Chau Van Minh and his associates from the Vietnam Science and Technology Academy have successfully isolated Holothurien A3, an active anti-cancer compound, and found a method for extracting it from Holothuria Scabra.
Vietnamese scientists have found 18 substances and discovered the previously-unknown properties of substances extracted from sea creatures.
However, Dr Minh said the initial research achievements are too modest. Vietnam has not gone far enough with research on the East Sea, given that this country, with its long coastline of 3,260 kilometers, continually vows to develop a sea-borne economy.
To date, scientists have only focused on learning about sea creatures which can be used for food or for export, at the expense of studying marine life that can provide substances with high value to the pharmaceutical chemistry.
Scientific research will help confirm the right for East Sea
According to Dr. Du Van Toan from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Vietnam has carried out 7-8 large sea and island research programs so far, each of which is comprised of over 20 component projects. However, only a few findings have been applied practically.
“No one has come forward and reviewed the research conducted before. Yet this is very necessary work which can show what Vietnam could do and what it should do next,” he said.
Dr. Phan Trung Dien, a geology expert, noted that much research work on the East Sea has been put on mothballs, partially because there has been no national strategy relating to the East Sea.
To emphasized that Vietnam needs to master its valuable treasure in the East Sea, no matter if it plans to exploit the treasure right now.
“In order to do that, Vietnam has no other choice than to conduct thorough and methodical research on the East Sea with advanced technologies,” To said.
