Connecting technology, unlocking policies – Towards a blue ocean

Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, Director General of the Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands, gave an interview to the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper regarding Viet Nam Sea and Island Week 2025 and World Oceans Day (June 8), focusing on the protection and sustainable use of marine resources, aiming towards a blue ocean.

Putting science and technology at the heart of marine protection and sustainable exploitation solutions

Sir, Viet Nam Sea and Island Week 2025 is attracting strong participation from many localities. Could you share the special context of this year’s event and the significance of its main theme?

This year’s event takes place at a particularly crucial moment, as countries around the world are accelerating their transition toward green and circular economies, closely tied to technology and innovation. Climate change, sea level rise, plastic pollution, and the degradation of marine ecosystems are posing complex challenges that demand urgent and innovative solutions.

For Viet Nam - a maritime nation with over 3,260 kilometers of coastline and a sea area of more than 1 million square kilometers, the development of the marine economy must go hand in hand with environmental protection. That’s why the theme for this year is “Green Technology for a Sustainable Ocean.” It reflects a clear orientation to place science and technology at the core of modern, effective, and sustainable approaches to marine protection and exploitation.

So this theme is not just a slogan, but a substantive orientation, isn’t it?

Absolutely. This year’s theme conveys three clear messages aimed at achieving clean seas, a blue ocean, and a strong marine economy.

First, we must place technology at the center of ocean governance — from environmental monitoring using sensors, satellites, and AI, to digitalizing marine spatial planning and forecasting coastal disasters.

Second, the sustainable exploitation and protection of marine and island resources is not solely the responsibility of the agriculture and environment sectors. It is a shared mission for the whole of society, including citizens, businesses, scientists, youth, and policymakers.

Third, protecting the marine environment means safeguarding the foundation for economic development, maintaining national sovereignty, and affirming our position in the region and the world.

Connecting technology – Awakening the community – Unlocking policies – Towards a blue ocean

What key activities will the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment focus on during this year’s Sea and Island Week, Mr. Toan?

We are focusing on three main priorities: comprehensive communication about the role of green technology in marine protection and economic development; implementing a coordinated media campaign across multiple platforms to spread knowledge, visuals, and technological solutions related to the sea and a blue ocean.

Regarding multi-platform communication, the Week aims to bring green technology closer to the community, especially the younger generation, through a broad communication campaign featuring solutions such as waste monitoring sensors, circular marine aquaculture technology, and AI in fisheries management.

Particularly, we will organize national-level events connecting science, policy, and business, including sustainable marine economic development activities such as the nationwide launch ceremony, the national conference on green technology and sustainable oceans, and promoting practical models in localities and coastal communities.

As a new feature for 2025, we emphasize “technology, green technology” as the consistent highlight throughout the entire program. The Sea and Island Week will be integrated with a centralized online platform managing nationwide response activities - where localities can report, share images, videos, and real-time results. This is an important step to effectively amplify the campaign.

Overall, Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2025 is not only a symbolic event but a powerful call to action: Connecting technology – awakening the community – unlocking policies – towards a blue ocean, driving a strong, modern, sustainable marine economy that embodies Vietnam’s identity in the green era.

One of the key contents of Resolution 36-NQ/TW is to make Vietnam a strong maritime nation. What role does this year’s Sea and Island Week play in realizing that goal, Mr. Toan?

Resolution 36 serves as the guiding compass for all actions in Vietnam’s maritime development strategy. However, to truly bring the Resolution “to life,” there needs to be a bridge that helps people, businesses, and localities clearly understand their roles and responsibilities.

The Sea and Island Week is precisely the occasion to convey these messages in a relatable, vivid, and accessible manner. This year, we have intensified the integration of technology, practical models, and inspiration to encourage everyone to act for the seas — this is the most practical way to realize the Resolution.

From awareness to concrete actions for the ocean

What are your expectations for the activities in response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2025, especially regarding the awareness and actions of citizens, businesses, and local authorities in joining hands to implement major maritime strategies towards sustainable development and protecting national maritime sovereignty?

I sincerely hope that after this Week, three main groups will show clear changes. Specifically, citizens will realize that small behaviors like littering or destructive fishing can cause significant consequences. At the same time, they will know how to participate in practical marine protection.

Businesses will not only recognize their responsibilities but also see opportunities from green development in exploiting the blue ocean - shifting toward clean production models, ecotourism, reducing plastic in supply chains, and more. Local authorities will clearly understand their leading role in creating favorable mechanisms and policies, while strengthening inter-agency coordination to address marine issues.

I expect 2025 to be a pivotal year, turning awareness into concrete actions: reducing single-use plastics, sorting waste, cleaning coastlines, preserving ecological heritage... When every citizen takes an action for the ocean, that is the greatest success.

Thank you very much!