PM urges continuous monitoring of maritime environment to ensure seafood safety

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his cabinet members offer incense to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national liberation. Photo: VGP)

The PM was speaking at a conference held by the government in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province on May 17, to sum up the remedy work to stabilise the lives, production and businesses of local people in the four central provinces after the incident.

The incident occurred in April 2016 in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien - Hue. It was the biggest environmental incident in the country thus far, causing environmental damage to marine ecosystems and marine resources, while directly affecting the production and lives of approximately 510,000 people.

The mass fish deaths were first reported on April 6, 2016, when a large number of fish washed ashore in Ha Tinh. Roughly 70 tonnes of dead fish were found in the four provinces. In late June 2016, Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company admitted responsibility for the environmental incident, paying US$500 million in compensation for the affected people.

Reports at the conference showed that, after two years, active corrective measures with determination from the entire political system have helped to restore the quality of seawater and the marine environment, with fishing, aquaculture, salt production, marine tourism and local beaches in the four central provinces having been re-activated. Consumers have regained their trust in local seafood products and the damaged marine ecosystems have initially recovered. Compensation for fishermen suffering from the incident has basically been completed, along with the implementation of other social security and business development measures.

In reviewing the remedial actions, PM Phuc emphasised lessons have been learnt on publicity, transparency and democracy in implementing measures, with the active participation of the relevant ministries, sectors and localities.

The PM stressed that the environment is one of the pillars forming a development triangle, along with the economic and social components. All localities need to preserve the environment, especially the marine environment, which is a strength of Vietnam, he said, adding that from the Formosa incident, it is necessary to not pollute the air, soil or water.

He called for strengthening the capacity of the environmental impact assessment system, along with regularly implementing periodic inspections over Formosa and other facilities across the central coast. The PM also stated that Formosa should not commit any violations for a second time.

It is necessary to publicise indicators for assessing, evaluating and inspecting the environmental protection quality in the relevant localities and in local enterprises. "We create a favourable environment for businesses but we need to urge them to pay attention to environmental protection in order to maintain a peaceful life for local people," PM Phuc said, calling for incentives to support enterprises investing in and using green and environmentally friendly technologies.

The PM also requested the completion of the remaining compensation payments, while continuing the implementation of policies on welfare, such as health insurance, school fees, vocational training, job creation and loan support for the affected people.

At the conference, representatives from the Ministry of Health confirmed that they have monitored the quality and safety of seafood in the four central provinces. To date, the quality of seafood has been secured, they affirmed. In addition, the ministry has regularly taken seafood samples in the waters of the four localities to verify its quality. The current chemical substances in the samples are within the allowed level.

Earlier the same day, PM Phuc and his cabinet’s members paid homage to martyrs at the Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery, the resting place of over 10,000 soldiers from across Vietnam. The delegation also offered incense and laid wreaths at the Road No.9 National Martyrs’ Cemetery where more than 10,000 martyrs were buried.

Source: NDO