China's fishing ban in the East Sea: "Invalid"

According to the official dispatch recently sent by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just issued a notice to temporarily suspend fishing from 12:00 on May 1, 2018 to 12:00 on August 16, 2018 in the East Sea, the sea area from 12 degrees North latitude to the border line of the Fujian - Guangdong sea area, including the Gulf of Tonkin and the sea area under Vietnam's sovereignty.

In light of the above situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced and requested the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities to direct competent authorities to notify fishermen participating in seafood exploitation activities at sea about China's temporary suspension of fishing and affirm that China's suspension of fishing in waters under Vietnam's sovereignty and sovereign rights is invalid.

In addition, continue to encourage fishermen to stay at sea and produce normally within Vietnam's waters and guide them to organize into teams when going to work to support each other at sea.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also recommends that fishing vessels with fishing licenses in the Common Fishing Zone of the Gulf of Tonkin in 2017-2018 should not go to exploit the East Sea area of ​​the Gulf of Tonkin demarcation line during the above-mentioned period.

Direct competent authorities to strictly manage the departure of fishing vessels operating during this period, regularly monitor the situation of fishing vessel operations at sea, promptly notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of any unexpected incidents at sea (via the hotline of the Fisheries Surveillance Department) according to the Regulations on the implementation of the Vietnam - China hotline on unexpected incidents of fishing activities at sea issued under Decision No. 79/2014/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister or the Directorate of Fisheries.