Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force debuts   Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets crew members of a Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force's vessel. Photo: VNA The Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force made its debut on April 15 in the central city of Da Nang in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s General Department of Fisheries, the force’s key tasks include patrolling the country’s waters, monitoring and inspecting fisheries activities as well as detecting and handling violations. It will also assist fishermen in their operation, protecting the country’s aquatic resources and contributing to ensuring and protecting the security, order and national sovereignty in the country’s sea areas. Formed under the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 102/2012/ND-CP dated November 29, 2012 and Decision No. 3285/QD-BNN-TCCB dated November 28, 2012, the force has its main headquarters in Hanoi and four sub-offices in different regions. Addressing the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said the force’s formation is of great importance as it will ensure the execution of fisheries laws and regulations at sea, laying the foundation for the sustainable exploitation and protection of marine resources and assurance of safety for fishermen and their vessels. He required the MARD to direct the force to operate effectively in line with the national and international law, contributing to protecting national sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction in the East Sea while realising international commitments that Vietnam has made. The ministry is to build and submit to the government a master plan on the development of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance force until 2020 with a view to 2030.-VNA