Panel discussion at US Embassy marks World Oceans Day

The US Embassy in Vietnam convened a panel on June 7 of Vietnamese and international experts in recognition of World Oceans Day on June 8.

Opened by Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Susan Sutton, the panel featured Mr. Brian Bean from the US Agency for International Development’s Vietnam Forests and Deltas program, Ms. Nguyen Nhu Quynh from the Center for Marine Life Conservation and Community Development, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang from the Center for Supporting Green Development, and Mr. Jake Brunner, Head of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Indo-Burma Group.

“Whether it’s a beach cleanup, using fishing nets that won’t entangle turtles, or working with local governments to prevent coral reef loss, there are real solutions that can make a difference in protecting the ocean,” Ms. Sutton said.

The embassy also screened the film “A Plastic Ocean” on June 7, an adventure documentary that brings to light the consequences of a disposable lifestyle.

“The health of our oceans and the livelihoods of fishing communities depend on confronting the threats of overfishing and pollution, and participants learned how they could each help in easy ways,” said Ms. Alison Davis, Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer at the embassy. “For example, by putting trash in trash cans and refraining from using single-use plastic bottles and plastic bags, each of us can reduce the plastics pollution that is currently clogging our world’s oceans.”

Established by the UN, the theme for World Oceans Day this year is “Our Oceans, Our Future”. The theme helped drive engagement between panelists and audience members as they explored the earth’s amazing marine environment and Vietnam’s maritime treasures while also confronting the threats of overfishing and pollution, including the growing problem of plastics pollution.