Confidently venturing out to sea and maintaining a presence on the water.

Despite China's unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea from 12:00 PM on May 1st to 12:00 PM on August 16th, in the area between 120° North latitude and 26030° North latitude, including the Gulf of Tonkin, fishermen in Quang Tri province remain steadfast, venturing out to sea and maintaining their livelihoods. This not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to affirming and protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Fishing boats of local fishermen prepare to dock at Cua Viet fishing port - Photo: LA

Returning from a long fishing trip, Mr. Le Van Tuan, owner of fishing vessel QT 90929TS in Cua Viet town, Gio Linh district, said: “Through long-range communication equipment, I learned about China's unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea, but the crew on board continued fishing as usual. Now, every fishing vessel has a vessel tracking device that clearly shows the boundaries of the permitted fishing grounds, so we stick to our traditional fishing grounds. There are also fisheries inspectors and coast guard officers on duty at sea, so we fishermen feel very secure,” Mr. Tuan said.

Similarly, while refueling and resupplying before heading out to sea, Mr. Bui Dinh Thuan, owner of fishing vessel QT 91126TS, which uses a gillnet, said that every year at this time, China unilaterally issues this unreasonable fishing ban, so he and his crew feel it's normal and the order is invalid. "It's our sea, so we fish there. However, to ensure safety, we always remind each other to go out to sea in groups; we agree on frequencies and maintain constant communication so that if we encounter any problems or unforeseen circumstances, we can receive support," Mr. Thuan said.

According to Mr. Phan Duc Khanh, representative of the Cua Viet fishing port, despite China's fishing ban, fishermen are still going out to sea as usual. Currently, 10-15 fishing boats dock at the port daily to sell seafood, refuel, resupply, and then head out to sea again. Through discussions, all fishermen expressed their opposition to China's unreasonable fishing ban and affirmed their continued confidence in going out to sea and fishing as normal.

According to Mr. Khanh, the current fishing season is in the South, with the main fishing grounds being the Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, and Gulf of Tonkin areas. These are all traditional fishing grounds and are all waters under Vietnam's sovereignty . Therefore, the more China prohibits fishing, the more united and cooperative the fishermen become in responding. "Based on monitoring the fishing vessel surveillance system, there are currently about 80 offshore fishing vessels from Quang Tri province operating at sea. In the coming days, the number of fishing vessels going out to sea is expected to increase," Mr. Khanh added.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Huu Vinh, in response to China's unilateral temporary fishing ban in the South China Sea in 2025, aimed at imposing a fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, the period from 12:00 PM on May 1st to 12:00 PM on August 16th is the period from latitude 120° North to latitude 260°30' North, including the Gulf of Tonkin.

To reassure fishermen about venturing out to sea, maintaining their livelihoods, and ensuring their safety during operations, the Provincial People's Committee has directed relevant departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of coastal districts and Con Co Island district to inform fishermen engaged in fishing activities about China's fishing ban, while affirming that this is a wrongful act and that fishermen have the right to continue fishing in Vietnam's waters.

In addition, relevant authorities organize the dissemination of legal knowledge about the sovereignty of the sea and islands; encourage fishermen to fish in groups and teams when going out to sea to support each other; warn about the possibility of China taking harsh action; and guide the timely reporting of violations by foreign fishing vessels in Vietnamese waters.

Strengthen the monitoring of fishing vessel activities in maritime areas through the vessel monitoring system, and provide warnings to fishing vessels when necessary. The Provincial Border Guard Command is requested to direct border guard stations in coastal areas to strictly manage the entry and exit of fishing vessels during this period, and to severely punish organizations and individuals that allow fishing vessels to illegally fish in foreign waters.

"This is a unilateral ban by China, while fishing vessels from Quang Tri province continue to operate normally in fishing grounds under Vietnam's sovereignty," Mr. Vinh affirmed.

Le An

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/vung-tin-vuon-khoi-bam-bien-194128.htm