The shooting at Vietnamese fishermen on Vietnam's Spratly Islands by people on a Philippine boat was illegal, the Vietnam Fisheries Association said.

Deputy head of the Vietnam Fisheries Association, Vo Van Trac, told Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper on December 1 morning that they had sent a letter to the Government's office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest against a fisherman from Quang Ngai being shot dead on Spratly Islands on November 26.

According to the association's letter, fishing boat QNg95861-TS owned by Nguyen Van Cu in Binh Chau Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province with 14 fishermen on board were fishing near Suoi Ngoc Island in Spratly Islands. At that time, only two fishermen were on board while others had dived for fish when a Filipino fish boat with eight people approached. Three of them with guns in their hands climbed on to the Vietnamese boat and shot dead Truong Dinh Bay.

 The body of Truong Dinh Bay was brought inland

"The action by these men is illegal, inhuman and violate Vietnam's sovereignty," the letter said. "They should take responsibilities and compensate Bay's family."

The association also call for government agencies to take action to protect local fishermen.