China is now conducting a unilateral fishing ban in a part of the East Sea (Bien Dong) which includes Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa waters and some sections of the Tonkin Gulf.  The ban is being applied from 16 May to 1 August.

Fisherman Duc beside his fishing boat

Regardless of China’s illegal move, fishermen from Da Nang, and from the country as a whole, have been strongly determined to continue their offshore fishing trips to Viet Nam’s territorial waters in order to earn their livings as well as to protect the country’s sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands.

The owner of fishing boat DNa 90244 from Thanh Khe District’s Thanh Khe Dong Ward, Mr Pham Tien Duc, said, “During my recent offshore trip, my fishing boat was chased away by some Chinese ships whilst we were fishing in Viet Nam’s waters.  They defiantly gave warning signals to ask my boat to leave the area immediately”. 

In spite of this, his crew were not frightened of the possibility of aggressive actions by the Chinese, and they eventually had bumper catches on this difficult trip. 

Mr Duc happily said that the 13-day trip had brought back 18 tonnes of fish, valued at around 549 million VND, and each crew member was paid 14 million VND.

Currently, supplies of fuel, ice, food and other necessary provisions are being loaded onto his boat in preparation for his next trip to the Hoang Sa waters. 

Another fisherman, Mr Nguyen Van Dien from Hai Chau District, remarked that his offshore fishing boat had been chased by 2 Chinese marine surveillance vessels whilst legally operating in Viet Nam’s waters. 

The strong-willed fisherman kept calm, however, and steered the boat to avoid confrontations with the Chinese ships, regardless of the perverse actions by the Chinese. 

He also said that he is determined to continue his offshore fishing trips to the Hoang Sa waters which are traditional Vietnamese fishing grounds. 

Mr Duc and Mr Dien both stressed the need for Vietnamese fishermen to keep themselves closely informed of the position of Chinese vessels whilst they are at sea in order to avoid possible confrontations with them.