Fishermen continue fishing in Vietnamese waters

Fisherman Pham Ngoc Son, Phong Tien hamlet, Tien Thuy commune, Quynh Luu district, has a boat with a capacity of 822 CV, fishing with a seine net, license plate NA96678TS. He said: "The fact that China announces a temporary suspension of fishing in Vietnam's sovereign waters happens almost every year, we find it unreasonable. Therefore, we fishermen continue to fish in Vietnam's sovereign waters as before."

However, after China issued that fishing ban, we fishermen will regularly contact each other and support each other during the fishing process.

Fishermen of Hoang Mai Town prepare fishing gear to go out to sea to catch fish. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Vu Ngoc Chat - Chairman of the Quynh Long Commune Fisheries Association (Quynh Luu) shared: "The locality has 98 fishing vessels with a capacity of over 400 CV specializing in catching seafood in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Chinese side's announcement to temporarily stop fishing in the Gulf of Tonkin is unreasonable. Our Fisheries Association continues to propagate and mobilize fishermen to continue fishing in Vietnamese waters, paying attention not to touch Chinese waters."

Nghe An province currently has 687/3,905 fishing boats with engine capacity from 400 CV to over 1,000 CV; most concentrated in Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district. These large capacity boats specialize in fishing in the Gulf of Tonkin and offshore.

Mr. Tran Huu Tien - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: In the spirit of the official dispatch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Agriculture directs functional agencies and local authorities of coastal areas to continue to encourage fishermen to stay at sea and produce normally within Vietnam's sea areas and instruct them to organize into teams when going to work to support each other at sea.

Accordingly, the authorities in the province strictly manage the departure of fishing vessels operating during this time and regularly monitor the activities of fishing vessels at sea.

Quynh Luu fishermen's large-capacity fleet goes out to sea to catch seafood. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Previously, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs 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 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 inform fishermen and affirm that China's temporary suspension of fishing in waters under Vietnam's sovereignty and sovereign rights is invalid.