Fishing ban to include Huangyan

China will impose a routine fishing ban in northern parts of the South China Sea, including waters around Huangyan Island, from tomorrow, authorities announced yesterday.

The ban will last until August 1, covering areas north of the 12th parallel, including Huangyan Island but excluding most of the Nansha Islands, according to a spokesman for the South China Fishery Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture.

All fishing vessels should be moored and shelve their nets during the ban, the spokesman said. Violators may have their catches and boats confiscated, their fishing licenses revoked and be fined up to 50,000 yuan (US$7,910).

He said the ban would also apply to foreign ships. "Fishing activity of foreign ships in the banned areas will be seen as a blatant encroachment on China's fishery resources."

Foreign fishing boats have been caught breaking fishing bans in the area in the past. Despite continuous crackdowns, the practice is far from being stamped out, he added.

Imposed annually since 1999, the ban is aimed at protecting fishery resources. It has been imposed from May 16 to August 1 every year since 2009, he said.

This year, however, it comes at a time of escalating tensions over Huangyan Island, which began on April 10 when a Philippine warship harassed Chinese fishing vessels seeking shelter in bad weather.

China has repeatedly said Huangyan Island is an inherent part of its territory and that the surrounding waters are historic fishing areas for Chinese fishermen.

The fishery bureau spokesman said a patrol boat would be dispatched to the waters around the island today to enforce the ban.

Also yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters that the fishing ban was "not related to the ongoing Huangyan Island incident."

Tong Xiaoling, Chinese ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said: "We are aware of the presence of Philippine boats in the area. These fishing boats should leave regardless of the fishing ban." Tong added: "China has every right to defend its sovereignty and protect its fishery resources."

Meanwhile, China urged the Philippines to respect China's territorial sovereignty and stop complicating tensions over Huangyan Island. "The Chinese side demands the Philippine side seriously respect China's territorial sovereignty and stop all moves that will expand and complicate the situation," Hong said.

On Saturday, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines would never agree to China's demand to withdraw vessels from the waters off Huangyan Island and would instead seek only a temporary agreement on the matter until a long-lasting solution could be reached.

"[The Philippines] should work to address the situation through diplomatic consultations rather than continue stirring public opinion and delivering self-contradictory information," Hong said.