Binh Dinh province, 27 November 2023 - Quy Nhon City People's Committee coordinated in cooperation with the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and UNDP in Vietnam to organize a "Workshop to launch the model of bringing plastic wastes from fishing vessels back to shore" and a series of events including "Inaugurating the warehouse for collecting and segregating plastic waste from fishing vessels to shore, handing over plastic waste collection equipment to fishing vessels and Quy Nhon Fishing Port".

The event was attended by a diverse range of participants, including Mr. Patrick Haverman, UNDP's Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam; Mr. Shimonishi Kiyoshi, Deputy Consulate General of Japan in Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, Vice Chairman of Quy Nhon City People's Committee; and other leaders from the Binh Dinh Fisheries Department and Quy Nhon Fishing Port Management Board. It also saw active participation from associations, socio-political organizations, businesses, and those at the heart of the issue - the fishing boat owners and captains.

At the core of the initiative "Bringing plastic wastes from fishing vessels back to shore” are innovative activities focused on addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste in the fisheries industry. The initiatives include: The pilot of a plastic waste management model is designed to encourage fishermen to bring their waste ashore. This pragmatic approach aims to involve the fishing community in waste management solutions directly. It involves 200 fishing vessels from the province in this environmental endeavor; the project extends support by providing specially designed net bags to fishing vessels. It will also organize training and incentive programs, including gift exchange events, to foster a sense of ownership and pride among the fishermen in their role as environmental stewards.

Moreover, a 100m2 warehouse at Quy Nhon Fishing Port has been constructed, equipped to handle the collection, transportation, and classification of plastic wastes. This facility is a tangible testament to the city's dedication to managing marine plastic waste effectively. The pilot of a mechanism to sell classified waste to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) is developed and implemented. A plastic waste collection team was established by the Management Board of the Quy Nhon Fishing port, to bring plastic wastes from fishing vessels to the warehouse. They were distributed labor protection equipment and financial supports from selling plastic wastes to the MRF.

Highlighting the urgency and importance of these initiatives, Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan - Vice Chairman of Quy Nhon City People's Committee, remarked, "Currently, most fishing vessels do not have waste collection tools and do not bring waste to shore. In addition, aquaculture production activities and activities at fishing ports also cause environmental pollution and generate much plastic waste."