Vietnam will set up 11 new marine protected areas (MPA) from now to 2015 so that MPAs will cover 0.24 percent of the country’s total sea area, according to an MPA development plan for the 2010-2020 period. 

At a seminar held in Nha Trang city, south central Khanh Hoa province, on November 30, the Department of Fisheries Resources Management presented a list of the planned MPAs.

Between 2016-2020, the department will focus on improving the legal documents and development plans regarding MPAs, as well as the capacity of officials involved in the field. 

The department will also try to zone up five more MPAs in this period. 

Vietnam currently has four MPAs situated in Nha Trang bay, on Con Co island in Quang Tri province, Cham isle in Quang Nam province and Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province.

Source: VOV