Coordination to resolve violations and buffer zone mechanism for small fishing vessels
+ Each Contracting Party shall facilitate the licensed fishing vessels of the other Contracting Party to enter the Common Fishery Zone. The competent authorities of each Contracting Party shall not abuse their authority or prevent the licensed fishing vessels of the other Contracting Party from conducting normal fishing activities in the Common Fishery Zone. If a Contracting Party discovers that the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party are not enforcing the common management measures set forth by the Vietnam-China Joint Fishery Commission in the Gulf of Tonkin, it shall have the right to request the competent authorities to explain and, if necessary, to discuss and resolve the issue at the Joint Fishery Commission of the two countries.
+ Each party may apply any international cooperation or joint venture method within the scope of its fishing scale in the Common Fishing Zone. All fishing vessels permitted to operate under the above-mentioned joint cooperation method in the Common Fishing Zone must comply with the regulations on conservation and management of aquatic resources set by the Joint Fisheries Commission of the two countries, fly the national flag of the licensing party and be marked according to the regulations of the Joint Fisheries Commission, and operate fishing in the Common Fishing Zone in the waters of the licensing party.
+ To avoid disputes due to small fishing vessels of the two signatories mistakenly entering the territorial waters of the other signatory, the two sides establish a buffer zone for small fishing vessels at the border of the territorial waters of the two countries, the length from the first point of the demarcation line extending south along the demarcation line is 10 nautical miles, the width retreats 3 nautical miles from each side from the demarcation line, the specific range is formed by straight lines connecting points 1 to 7, corresponding to each position of North latitude and East longitude specifically stipulated in the Agreement.
+ If a contracting party discovers a small fishing vessel of the other party engaging in fishing activities in the buffer zone for small fishing vessels in its waters, it may warn and apply necessary measures to force the vessel to leave that water area, but should exercise restraint, not arrest, detain, punish or use force. If a dispute arises related to fishing activities, it shall be reported to the Joint Fisheries Commission of the two countries for resolution. If a dispute arises outside of fishing activities, it shall be resolved by the relevant competent authorities of each country in accordance with its own laws.
(to be continued)
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