A contest was held recently at a school in Co To district island of the northern province of Quang Ninh, aiming to raise pupils’ awareness and promote their love for the seas and islands of Vietnam.

The event formed part of a programme organised by the Coast Guard Zone 1 High Command to seek companionship with local fishermen. With practical and simple questions, the contest helped islander pupils understand the law on the sea and related legal documents. After two years, the programme has brought legal knowledge as well as sharing to many coastal and island regions in the country, thus raising pupils’ awareness on the role, position and potential of the national seas and islands, as well as the state’s policies on the issue. The event coincided with the time fishing vessels came back from offshore voyages. This is when seamen have a short break between fishing trips to gain more knowledge and updates on legal regulations, thus clinging on the trade while contributing to protecting sovereignty over national seas and islands.-VNA