Decree No. 53/2012/ND-CP dated June,20, 2012 of the Government amending and supplementing a number of articles of the decrees on aquatic product area

MUST HANG VIETNAMESE FLAG WHEN FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS OPERATE IN VIETNAM

On June 20, 2012, the Government issued the Decree No. 53/2012/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Decrees on the aquatic product area.

Under the Decree, the foreign fishing vessels are only permitted to perform the aquatic operation in Vietnam's sea waters if having the License of aquatic operation issued by the competent authorities and the License of frequency and equipment of radio transceivers using issued by the Authority of Radio Frequency Management and they must hang Vietnamese flag during the time of operation. The Vietnamese flag must be hung side by side and is as high as the flag of the country hung on the boat since August 10, 2012.

Besides, under this Decree, the imported fishing vessel must satisfy three conditions as follows: The age of the boat not exceeding eight years (from the year of new building to the time of import); the main engine of the ship (from the year of manufacture to the time of import) not exceeding two (02) years compared with boat age (for used fishing vessel); Having legal origin; Being steel hull boat with the total capacity of the main engine from 400 CV or more. For used fishing vessels, they must be registered by the Vietnam Fishing Vessel Registration Agency before sending the vessel to Vietnam.

These conditions do not apply for the case the fishing vessels are aided by the foreign Government, organizations and individuals to Vietnam.