Vietnam and the Philippines have launched a hotline to facilitate the timely exchange of information on fishing activities.

The communication channel is expected to allow the two sides to coordinate effectively in responding to emergency situations such as searching and rescuing distressed Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen at sea.

It is operated by the Vietnamese Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The establishment of the hotline is part of an agreement on fishery cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines which was signed in June 2010.-VNA