Quang Ninh (VNA) – The 15-year implementation ofthe Vietnam-China agreement on fishery cooperation on the Tonkin Gulf was thefocus of a scientific seminar held in the northern coastal province of QuangNinh on March 31.
Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People’s Committee Dang Huy Hauhighlighted positive outcomes of the agreement’s enforcement, includingremarkable improvements in local authorities and fishermen’s awareness aboutthe agreement, the national sovereignty at sea, regulations of the twocountries, and the need to protect and develop marine resources in the TonkinGulf.
He noted that fishing activities by local fishermen in thecontiguous area have been conducted normally under the supervision of patrolforces of both countries.
He informed the seminar that Quang Ninh has incorporated theimplementation of the agreement into local resolutions, plans and projects onfishery development.
According to the official, 513 ships of Quang Ninh have beengranted permits to exploit seafood in the shared fishing waters in the TonkinGulf. He affirmed that all the ships abided by stipulations of the Vietnam-Chinaagreement on fishery cooperation on the Tonkin Gulf.
Every year, Quang Ninh has instructed relevant agencies toorganise patrols and inspections in the shared fishing waters, the waters intransitional arrangement and the buffer zone for small fishing boats, in orderto curb and prevent exploitation activities that can negatively affect marineresources and to enhance law abiding awareness among fishermen.
At the same time, the province has regularly released fishfry into the sea, contributing to recovering the marine resources.
A report of the Vietnam-China Joint Fishery Committee saidthe implementation of the Vietnam-China agreement on fishery cooperation on theTonkin Gulf over the past 15 years has contributed to stabilising the order andsecurity in the gulf.
According to Nguyen Quang Hung, deputy director general ofthe Directorate of Fisheries, the two sides have agreed on methods to surveyand calculate marine reserves along with a draft of the joint report on thephases of the work.
Hung said the two sides agreed that the fishery resources inthe Tonkin Gulf have shown signs of decline, and recommended that each sidebuild plans to continue assessing marine resources and releasing fry to restorethe resources, as well as to enhance coordination in conducting patrols andinspections of fishing activities in the waters.-VNA