According to a report on the environmental situation by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Việt Nam’s marine ecosystem is continuing to degrade. Biodiversity, especially in coastal areas, is increasingly threatened. Mangrove forests have been critically devastated and up to 90 per cent of coral reefs are threatened to be destroyed. According to an investigation carried out by the Việt Nam Institute of Oceanography, sea and island pollution is also attributed to localities inappropriately exploiting and using sandy coastal lands, resulting in a serious shortage of fresh water, and increased coastal erosion and sedimentation. Destructive fishing methods like using explosives and hazardous chemicals, as well as a lack of planning in sea tourism development have resulted in quickly depleting aquatic resources and damaged marine ecosystems.

Plastic bottles are present in very (very) large quantities in our oceans, they are ingested by marine mammals or accumulate in nature and on our beaches. Different kinds of plastic can degrade at different times.

Recycling is an important factor in conserving natural resources and greatly contributes towards improving the environment. Below are some helpful hints about recycling in and around the home. Find ways of recycling different materials : Many materials can be recycled, such as paper, plastic, metal and glass. Other items such as furniture, electronic equipment, building material and vehicles can also be recycled but many people don’t often think to do so.

Buy products that can be recycled : When shopping at the supermarket, buy products that can be recycled easily such as glass jars and tin cans.

Buy products that have been made from recycled material :  You can tell if a product is eco-friendly by looking at the label on the packaging.

Avoiding buying hazardous material.

Drastic reductions will help reduce Oceans’ temperatures. Current increases in temperatures are threatening marine life and starving it with scarce levels of oxygen. Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is making our oceans more acidic. There are many simple ways you can reduce your energy use. Ride a bike, walk or use public transportation. Use high efficiency appliances in your home. Turn off appliances when they aren’t in use. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house.

When fertilizers are used in gardening and agriculture, the excess eventually ends up in the ocean. One of the most devastating pollutants are the nitrogen and phosphorus found in our fertilizer and sewage. When too much of either washes downstream, coastal waters become choked with heavily fertilized algae, which then dies and decomposes, consuming the oxygen in the water and asphyxiating animal life. Avoid products produced through unsustainable or environmentally harmful methods. For example, avoid cosmetics containing shark squalene and jewelry made of coral or sea turtle shell. These products are directly linked to unsustainable fishing methods and the destruction of entire ecosystems. The first step we should take is to simply spread the cause. People need to understand the effects of their actions and how we will all eventually suffer from the pollution. There are groups like Rise Above Plastics that we can join, but there are even simpler ways to make a change. Social media is a great way to get the message out to a wider demographic.