VN-China fishing accord in Bac Bo Gulf
Ha Noi, Mar. 16 (VNA) -- The signing of the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf fishing cooperation agreement between Viet Nam and China last December has opened the way for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
* Overlapping Fishing Areas
The Fisheries Ministry's Legal Department Director Dinh Xuan Thao, says the overlapping fishing zone in the Bac Bo Gulf between Viet Nam and China covers 33,500 sq. km or 27.9 percent of the gulf's total area. It stretches from 20 degree north to the closing line of the gulf with a width of 30.5 nautical miles.
The demarcation ensures an average of 30 nautical miles from each country's coast. The average distance from Viet Nam's coast to the line ranges from 35 to 39 nautical miles but the two nearest points, Mui Ron, Ha Tinh province, Mui Don, Quang Binh province, are only 28 nautical miles from it.
* Principles of Control
Viet Nam and China have agreed three principles to control their overlapping fishing zones.
Both countries shall control and inspect their own exclusive economic zones and have the right to oversee vessels fishing legally in the overlapping area.
The number of fishing vessels permitted to operate in the overlapping area will be determined on the basis of equality and catch volume defined by regular joint investigations.
Both countries have the right to set up joint ventures with a third party in their own exclusive economic zones.
The protection of fishing resources is defined as the first priority to ensure the area's sustainable development. The two countries have set a joint 15-year operation term, including 12 official years and three extended years. They will conduct joint research to define fish reserves for the making of fishing plans and determining the number of fishing vessels from each country allowed to work in the area.
In addition, they have agreed to a four-year transitional for the territorial waters from the 20-degree latitude northwards for continued netting by fishing vessels from both countries.
After the transition, fishing vessels from each country must return to their own exclusive economic zone, unless allowed to remain by the other.
Apart from the overlapping fishing area, Viet Nam and China have agreed to establish a 10-nautical mile by three nautical mile buffer zone outside the Bac Luan river estuary.
* Making the Agreement Effective
Several jobs remain to be completed for the bilateral fishing cooperation agreement between Viet Nam and China to come into effect. First, the agreement must be ratified by both governments. In addition, both countries will continue negotiating a supplementary protocol for their transitional area. It will cover scale, control measures and the operation. Next will come the establishment of a joint fishing committee by the two governments.
Experts believe that once the agreement comes into effect, fishermen from both countries will have opportunities to exchange experiences and know-how.
But Viet Nam still faces difficulties as its fishing fleet is inefficient in terms of quantity, capacity and technology and the experts recommend the Government intensify investment for building more deep-water fishing vessels in the near future.--VNA
