MARD urges fishermen to persist in their work despite China’s fishing ban

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has issued a request for local authorities to promote the retention of fishermen within Vietnam's maritime sovereignty and to maintain normal production degrees.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has declared the customary seasonal prohibition on fishing during the summer months. The aforementioned assertion pertained to the remarks regarding the Chinese government's implementation of an annual prohibition on fishing activities, purportedly applicable in specific maritime areas, commencing from May 1st until August 18th, within the waters situated above the 12th parallel north latitude.

The purported ban in the South China Sea would include Vietnam's Paracel Islands, which are presently under China's illegal occupation.

An announcement and request were issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on May 8th to the People's Committee of coastal provinces and municipalities, urging them to collaborate and disseminate information to fishermen regarding the aforementioned ban. The statement further affirmed that the fishing ban unilaterally imposed by Beijing on the aforementioned regions has infringed upon Vietnam's sovereignty, as well as its rights to sovereignty and jurisdiction over its sea territories, rendering it null and void.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has urged local authorities to promote adherence to fishing activities within Vietnam's maritime sovereignty, while also instructing fishermen to work in groups to support one another during sea voyages. Additionally, MARD has called for prompt reporting of any violations committed by foreign fishing vessels in Vietnamese waters to the corresponding authorities. 

Furthermore, it is essential for local authorities to instruct relevant agencies to enhance surveillance of fishing operations conducted by fishing vessels on sea by utilizing the fishing vessel monitoring system. Additionally, appropriate measures should be taken to caution fishing vessels when deemed necessary, and particularly to closely regulate the entry and exit of fishing vessels that are operational during this period. It is recommended to continue in the execution and rigorous enforcement of Directive No. 49/CT-BNN-TCTS, issued on January 6, 2021 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, which aims to enhance the oversight of fishing vessels and guarantee the safety of fishermen and fishing vessels during fishing operations.

It is essential to expeditiously report unforeseen occurrences happening at sea to the Department of Fisheries Resources Surveillance's hotline at 024-62737323, for the benefit of fishing vessels and fishermen.

Previously on April 4, responding to reporters' questions during the regular press conference held in Hanoi, Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet stated that Vietnam's position on China's unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea has been consistent and clearly reiterated in the past few years.

"China's 'fishing ban' not only violates our sovereignty towards the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, but also Vietnam's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as delineated under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Viet said.

Vietnam asks that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnamese waters, refrain from complicating the situation, and contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, and order, according to the diplomat.

China has executed the fishing ban every summer since 1999, ostensibly to "promote sustainable marine fishery development and improve marine ecology," with the Coast Guard units in charge of patrolling and enforcement, but the problem is that many areas under the ban are disputed, with overlapping claims from several countries in the region, including Vietnam.

A question was also raised over China's recent condemnation of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remark made during his visit to Vietnam last week that the US is helping Vietnam and countries in the region on 'maritime domain awareness' which help them see clearly what is happening in the seas surrounding the countries when it comes to using of coercion by other countries against their fishing fleets.

China said in response "other countries outside the region, based on Cold War mentality, took every opportunity to sow discord in the region, and this is unpopular and doomed to fail," and that the situation in the East Sea "remains stable" because of the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, reads a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi.

Deputy spokesperson Viet remarked that "The maintenance of security safety, freedom of navigation and upholding the rule of law in the East Sea is closely linked to peace, stability and development operations for common prosperity in the Asia Pacific and the world at large."