Presidents of fishery associations of China, the Republic of
Korea (South Korea) and Japan have signed a proposal to solve
fishing disputes and marine emergencies peacefully. The signing
took place in Beijing on Thursday at a ceremony to mark the 50th
anniversary of the China Fisheries Association (CFA).
Qi Jingfa, head of the China Fisheries Association, said the
association had entered into agreements with South Korean and
Japanese organizations to handle accidents and rifts through
consultation and coordination.
Nongovernmental organizations, rather than government
departments, usually head efforts to end spats and skirmishes
between the fleets that operate in the East China and Yellow seas,
said Ma Weijun, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture's
Fisheries Bureau.
Over the past few years, the implementation of pacts between
China and its neighbors, including South Korea, Japan and Vietnam,
has prompted thousands of Chinese fishing boats to withdraw from
traditional fishing grounds, according to the ministry.
Even when fleets strictly honor the pacts, marine accidents and
disputes between the different countries are inevitable when winds
and currents are factored in, according to a ministry
statement.
Officials did not provide the number of fishing disputes between
China and neighbors South Korea and Japan.
To maintain order at sea and minimize disputes, the proposal
signed on Thursday asks fishermen to respect each other and abide
by fishing pacts while fulfilling their duty to conserve aquatic
resources and observe environmental protection statutes.
When disputes do occur, if they cannot be resolved immediately
the parties concerned should turn to civilian organizations for
consultation and resolution, according to the proposal.
It also says that the three fisheries associations should
strengthen exchanges and draft a manual to improve
communications.
(China Daily December 10, 2004)