Drawing contest raises awareness of marine ecosystem conservation

A drawing contest with the theme of conserving the sea and protecting endangered, precious and rare aquatic species for future generations was launched on November 10 by the Directorate of Fisheries.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, Vietnam is endowed with high biodiversity, rich aquatic resources, and many important marine ecosystems distributed along the coasts and around the islands.

However, the increase in the population growth, the need for economic development, the overfishing and tourism activities in the sea has caused negative impacts on marine ecosystems and decline in aquatic resources.

“To handle the above situation, it is necessary to have solutions to strengthen management, improve capacity, widely disseminate regulations on marine conservation and protection of endangered and rare aquatic species. One of the effective and indispensable solutions is promotion and dissemination through diverse forms such as reportage, special articles, seminars, talks, research contests, plays,” said Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries, Tran Dinh Luan.

In 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued a decision approving the communication project to improve community capacity on marine conservation until 2030. The project includes the organization of a drawing contest that aims to raise awareness about biodiversity in marine protected areas, the roles and responsibilities of people involved in marine conservation and the conservation of endangered and rare aquatic species in the marine protected areas.

Accordingly, the Directorate of Fisheries has developed and issued a plan, and coordinated with the Nong Nghiep Viet Nam (Vietnam Agriculture) Newspaper to organize a drawing contest with the theme "Marine conservation, protection of endangered, precious and rare aquatic species for future generations”.

The contest is expected to attract attention and enhance the community's understanding of the role and importance of marine conservation; create conditions for participants to express their ability and passion for art through painting about aquatic resource conservation.

At the same time, it aims to spread messages and actions on the protection of aquatic resources, seek initiatives to protect aquatic resources in the locality, thereby improving better understanding about the biodiversity in the marine protected area, the roles and responsibilities in participating in marine conservation, and protect endangered and precious aquatic species.

The drawing contest is open to all participants both in Vietnam and abroad. Its main objects include children of employees in the fisheries sectors; locals, children and students living in and around marine protected areas in Vietnam and tourists to marine protected areas.

Entries can focus on depicting daily activities in marine protected areas, aquatic resource protection areas or simply the aquatic environment around us. Participants could also draw wishes for a marine protected area for aquatic species or a marine ecosystem in which shrimp and fish can thrive; Do's and Don'ts in marine protected areas and to protect endangered, precious and rare aquatic species around us.

Other topics include ideas and solutions to build sustainable marine protected areas, prevent the decline of aquatic resources and protect endangered, precious and rare aquatic species.

The contest will last within two months, including one month for the submission and another for the Jury to evaluate, select and award-winning works.

“Although the duration of the contest is relatively short, I believe that many contestants, with their understanding, affection for aquatic species, and above all, the desire to protect the marine ecosystem and endangered, precious and rare aquatic species, will actively participate with many quality works that will convey many meaningful messages,” said the General Director.

According to the organizers, the entries can be presented in two forms: hand-drawn or digital works and computer graphics. The jury will judge and evaluate separately for the two forms. Entries must be presented on A3 paper or equivalent in size to A3 paper and filled with all contest information attached to the work.

The Organizing Committee will award separate prizes for two forms of hand- drawn and digital works, including 2 First prizes, 4 Second prizes, 8 Third prizes, 10 consolation prizes and 1 General special prize for both forms.

The prizes will include both cash and in-kind and particularly, a field trip to the marine protected area for the contestant whose work has won the Special and First prizes. The Organizing Committee believes that the contest will be a great motivation for the participants to contribute high-quality works of high expertise and great meaning to marine conservation and protection of endangered, precious and rare aquatic species.