The assessment was made at a conference to review 15 years of implementing the Vietnam-China Agreement on Fishery Cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin held in the northern border province of Quang Ninh on Sunday by the Vietnamese  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Nguyen Quang Hung, Deputy Head of the General Directorate of Fishery, suggested:“Efforts should be made to disseminate information to and educate fishermen to abide by the agreement and other regulations. After the agreement expires, each side needs to craft a plan to continue assessing fish stocks, recreating fish stocks, and reducing exploitation intensity. Joint patrols and checks of fishery activities at seas should be strengthened.”

Delegates discussed ways to help the two countries’ fishermen make change and continue to contribute to sustainable fishery development in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The Vietnam-China Agreement on Fishery Cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin is one of the most important agreements and has historical significance in delineating the Gulf of Tonkin between the two countries. The agreement approved by the two governments began coming into effect in late July 2004 and was valid for 12 years and automatically extended for 3 years. Under the agreement, both sides established a common fishing ground of 33,500 square km and a transition area with 4 years of validity time.