The Vietnam Fishing Association on May 16 formally objected to China’s fishing ban in the East Sea from May 16 to August 1, 2012, which includes areas in Vietnamese waters.

The association said the ban, which has been in place for years, negatively impacted on the lives of Vietnamese fishermen and violated Vietnam’s national sovereignty.

The association, which described the action as “wrongful”, said it will work closely with concerned agencies to encourage local fishermen to continue operating in Vietnamese territorial waters.-VNA