Chat on conservation and exploitation of marine living resources from the cultural sight

Abstract

Vietnam in the recent period is a marine nation with a large number of population depending on marine resources, including 2 millions of fishermen who exploit living resources in the Bien Dong. In parallel with economic development of the country, the degradation of marine ecosystems and living resources due to over-catching and unreasonable fishing have become more serious; and should be considered in economic, environmental and cultural aspects. Having said that Vietnamese originated from the rice field civilization of Red river and proceeded to the sea on the way of expansion eastward and southward. Spending hundreds years of marine exploitation Vietnamese has still behaved toward the sea as farmers' style. They are frightened in facing to the sea which is considered as a furious and mysterious force. It is observed popularly sacrifices before sailing to the sea and worship to a number of sea animals such as whale, dolphin and marine turtle. These behaviors support to conservation of a lot of endangered species in Vietnamese waters. In contrast, the approach namely "private land but shared waters", thinking as short-sighted view and life style of migrating people seem to create a number of negative behaviors in resource exploitation and then make fishermen more vulnerable. It is critical to consider these cultural aspects in the planning and performance of programmes for socio-economic development related to fishermen in Vietnam.