This Year's First Escort Task Group to the Nansha Islands from the Bureau of Fisheries Returns with Success

Source: MOA Press Office

Welcoming back, the task group

May 5-Yuzheng (Fishery Administration) Ship 311 and 202 of the MOA Bureau of Fisheries returned to Sanya of Hainan Province, successfully accomplishing the 35-day task of escort and inspection around the Nansha Islands.

On April 1, 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture dispatched the two ships to important fishing grounds at the Nansha Islands, especially the southwestern fishing ground of the islands, to provide protection to China s fishing vessels operating in the area. The mission aimed to secure order of fishing operation around the islands, protect fishermen and fishing resources, and safeguard China s marine interests. Despite harsh conditions and long-distance voyage, the ships escorted China s fishing vessels operating in the area, covering 50,000 square km of fishing ground to the southwest of the islands and 200,000 square km of fishing ground at the island reefs. The escort group traveled over 4,000 nautical miles, provided protection and service to 276 China s fishing vessels, and observed 201 foreign vessels, effectively preventing China s vessel from being illegally seized and robbed.

To continue with the escort task, the Ministry of Agriculture dispatched Yuzheng Ship 301 and Ship 302 on April 25 as the second group to replace the first two ships at the Nansha Islands. Crewmembers of the ships carried out inspection at important reefs and sea areas of the islands, and visited soldiers stationed on the islands as well as fishermen operating nearby. After that, Yuzheng Ship 311 and Ship 202 returned to Sanya, while Yuzheng Ship 301 and Ship 302 continued with the task around the islands.

The effective combination of cruising, escorting fishing vessels and management has promoted the efficiency of management as an effective exploration in new ways of fishing law enforcement at the Nansha Islands.

A Group Picture of the Crewmembers

Date: 14:23 5 May 2010