The Viet Nam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) released a document on Monday opposing China’s issuance of regulations banning fishing in the East Sea (South China Sea).

Fishing vessels off the central coastal province of Ninh Thuan

It was sent to the Government Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

China announced a fishing moratorium from May 1 to August 16 in the East Sea, including part of the Gulf of Tonkin and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago under Viet Nam’s sovereignty, according to the VINAFIS.

The regulations violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Viet Nam's territorial waters as well as its legal rights and interests, hamper fishing activities by Vietnamese fishermen, and breaks international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international legal documents, it said.

The society also cited China’s recent announcement on the establishment of two administrative units under the so-called “Sansha city” in a scheme to illegally control Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The VINAFIS says it vehemently protests these extremely unreasonable actions by China, stressing the regulations have no legal value for waters under Viet Nam’s sovereignty and Vietnamese fishermen have the right to fish there. 

It also urged relevant agencies in Viet Nam to take strong measures to end China’s latest actions in the East Sea, and suggested increasing law enforcement at sea to assist and protect Vietnamese fishermen operating in Viet Nam’s waters.

The society will actively instruct local fisheries associations and societies to partner with relevant agencies in communications work to help fishermen understand and observe legal regulations while at sea.

It will also call on fishermen to keep calm, continue fishing, step up production, and resolutely practice their legitimate rights, contributing to protecting national sovereignty of sea and islands.

On Apri 2, a Chinese marine surveillance ship attacked and sunk a Vietnamese fishing boat near Hoang Sa.

Viet Nam lodged an official complaint with China following the incident, saying it violated Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and threatened the safety of life and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.

Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today