From oil scum, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of the marine environment

Over the months, the origin of the oil scum that polluted throughout the coast of Vietnam has not been determined. But oil scum is not the only threat to Vietnam's marine environment. VietNamNet would like to introduce the third article in the series of Mr. Ngo Luc Download, Vice Chairman of the Marine Science and Technology Association.

Protection of the marine environment is a global trend

The sense of human environmental protection has long been developed, along with population growth and industrialization around the world.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, there have been many non-governmental organizations protecting the environment in a number of advanced industrial countries with requirements such as: keeping the environment clean, not destroying ecological and anti-nuclear weapons. .

The whirlwind of scientific revolutions - serial technology, which is mechanical, electronic, biological, information . has made people's lives more prosperous and convenient, but also time for humanity to face great challenges. That is the ecological imbalance, pollution of the environment of the earth, conflicts between industrial development and environmental protection.

(Photo: VNN)

The problem of many difficult answers poses not only for a few wealthy industrial countries but also for the whole world, forcing nations and many international organizations to seek appropriate answers because of the consequences of " money ". of industrial wastes, including methane gas, carbon dioxide, sulfur . . has caused the greenhouse effect to cause global warming, frost melting rapidly in two poles, creating the current Unusual weather icons such as La Nina and El Nino . break the ecological balance that has existed since humanity appeared.

Up to now, the protection of the environmental environment in general and the marine environment in particular has not only been strongly promoted by non-governmental organizations but it has become a key area of ​​industrial countries and nations. At the seaside, it is also the most concern and concern of mankind, does not exclude anyone and does not allow anyone to stand outside.

1,721 tons of drifting oil on Vietnam's sea waters

Sources of pollution in Vietnam's marine environment:

- Industrial waste discharged from estuaries.

- Organic pollution due to aquaculture.

- Vessels of ships operate on international maritime routes off Vietnam.

- Oil spill from oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in the country and in the region.

- Pollution pollution due to tourism activities and coastal residents.

Vietnam's waters are about 1 million square kilometers, with a coastline of 3,260 kilometers, an open sea that connects the Pacific and Indian Ocean, which is one of the navigable axes with very large traffic volumes. of which 70% are oil tankers. Although not yet classified as a serious pollution such as the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea . but it is also warned that there is a high risk of future pollution because the industry is developing strongly in coastal areas and Oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in the region are increasing.

According to the evaluation of Vietnamese scientists, the quality of marine and coastal environment is continuing to decline.

The coastal water environment is polluted due to hard-to-decompose waste such as plastic bags and polymer being thrown into the sea, turning many areas of water into dead waters, destroying organisms, there are 70 species of seafood must be included in the Vietnam Red Book. Male, and 85 species in critical condition with different levels, especially serious 'red tide' phenomenon appeared in 2002 and 2003 in the South Central Coast has caused great damage to farming. growing seafood.

Most recently, from December 2006 to the end of April 2007, the South China Sea suffered from 21,620 - 51,500 tons of floating oil, seriously polluting the marine environment and coastal areas from North to South.

According to statistics, only 1,721 tons have been collected and washed into the beaches of 20 provinces, the rest has been diffused or gone, causing consequences for the environment, no matter how many plants and marine life know.

More importantly, where the source of pollution comes from is still an open answer, but with existing scientific - technological and equipment levels, it is unlikely that we will be able to answer in one light, and the environment Vietnamese sea is still facing great risks and challenges.

From a global perspective, climate change will impact marine resources.

From a national perspective, it is the economic and policy difficulties that will affect the ability to solve natural disasters and invest in equipment to prevent environmental pollution, as well as raise public awareness about security. Marine environment protection.

Specific suggestions

Currently, in industrialized countries, especially North America and Europe, these countries are thoroughly using advanced science - technology and modern equipment to solve inspections. Detecting and treating marine environmental pollution.The European Maritime Agency (EmSa) uses European Space Agency's Envisat and Eurimage-Spa satellites to detect and locate polluted areas.In addition, there is a System called ' Sea cleaning network '.Whenever detecting a ship causing pollution or trace pollution, the satellite will transmit the data to the analysis station and transfer the results to the concerned country after 30 minutes.In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and a number of countries have also set up a special inspection area of ​​the SECA (Sox-Emission Control Area) to monitor the amount of sulfur gas (SO2) emitted from ship dynamics. The sea has an impact on the environment.

The recent environmental pollution spill is the biggest incident in the history of Vietnam's marine environment, occurred in a vast sea area with very complex levels and properties, while our country has not yet never experienced nor prepared enough posture to deal with this inadequacy, of course it became a difficult problem to solve.

Although the authorities, localities and many scientific disciplines have been active, but only at the level of solving the coastal consequences of cleaning, collecting and treating pollution. The fundamental problem is to determine where the source of pollution comes from to prevent it from reaching the root.

There have been some suggestions from management branches and scientists from different perspectives. However, at this time, it is necessary to have a synchronous solution, while dealing with the immediate problems and at the same time creating a foundation for the sustainability of Vietnam's marine environment in the future, please give some comments for reference:

1. It is necessary to seriously assess the management and management capacity of Vietnam's marine environmental protection apparatus at the macro as well as micro level, in coastal localities for consolidation and improvement if necessary.

2. Spending appropriate budget to invest in marine environmental protection, focusing on modern equipment and scientific data information system.

3. Expanding bilateral and multilateral international cooperation in the field of marine environmental protection to enlist the support in necessary areas (technical facilities, training and training of scientific staff) - technology, management staff), and at the same time, to enable Vietnam to participate in international environmental protection, on the position of a strong sea country.

4. Proposing to ASEAN and regional countries to establish a common system to inspect, detect and handle environmental pollution in the South China Sea, raise the environmental cooperation to a higher and appropriate step. with integration trend.

The reality of life clearly points out that every lesson has a price, especially the lesson about the recent marine environmental pollution, thinking that it is not expensive if we know how to switch from passive position to initiative. This work is intended for national strategic managers and planners.

Ngo Luc Download