Vietnam Has Major Role in Reducing Marine Debris: NOAA Official

Vietnam has played a major role in addressing marine rubbish, said Ms. Nancy Wallace, director of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Marine Debris Program. The NOAA official made the statement in a recent interview with the state-run Vietnam News Agency. She lauded Vietnam’s recent hosting of an international workshop in the central province of Khanh Hoa on fighting ocean debris. The country is also demonstrating regional leadership to address the issue in Southeast Asia, she noted. Besides, Vietnam has developed a national action plan to address marine debris. The country is focusing on waste management, education, and outreach, and reducing derelict fishing gear. Earlier on May 13-15, the governments of Vietnam, the United States, and Thailand co-hosted an international workshop in Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa. More than 90 representatives from the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) attended the event. (Vietnam News, VietnamNews)