China Imposes Fresh Environmental Regulations for its Maritime Fishing Operations

China Takes Steps to Address Illegal Fishing Practices in Distant-Water Fleet

China, one of the world's largest fishing nations, has implemented new rules aimed at increasing transparency and promoting sustainable practices in its distant-water fishing fleet. The new regulations, introduced in 2020 and 2021, include revisions to existing regulations and the introduction of new measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to a U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, China accounts for approximately 15% of the world's reported wild fish catch. However, concerns have been raised about the practices of China's distant-water fleet, with allegations of illegal shark finning, targeting endangered species such as oceanic whitetips and hammerheads.

One of the key changes in the new regulations is the introduction of harsher punishment for those caught breaking the rules. The new rules also include a clamp-down on vessel monitoring, new port management procedures, stricter certification requirements, and clarification of penalties, responsibilities, and enforcement measures.

The new rules also prohibit IUU fishing activity, a provision not included in the previous version of the regulations. This is a significant step towards addressing the issue of illegal fishing, as the Pew Trust report estimates that one in five wild-caught fish is caught illegally, with a total annual value of up to $23.5 billion.

The Chinese distant-water fleet, active outside its maritime borders, is estimated to have at least 2,900 vessels, making it one of the largest in the world. The fleet has grown by at least 1,000 boats and doubled its reported annual catch since 2003.

However, China's distant-water fleet has been widely implicated in illegal practices. A recent study in the journal Science Advances estimates $440 million worth of flying squid illegally taken from North Korean waters by Chinese boats in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, China ranks worst out of 152 coastal states on a global IUU fishing index.

In addition to the new regulations, China has committed to international agreements aimed at preventing IUU fishing. This includes participation in global fisheries management organizations and treaties under the United Nations framework. However, specific details about which agreements China has formally ratified are not provided in the available search results.

Experts suggest that if China enforces its new rules, it could substantially improve fishing and supply chain management globally due to its position as the largest distant-water fishing power. The new rules also introduce reporting and onboard independent observers for transfers at sea, and ban pollution during operations.

However, challenges remain. For example, more than a third of the planet's fish stocks are overfished to biologically unsustainable levels. In addition, concerns have been raised about the treatment of crew members on Chinese vessels. Reports of human rights abuses, including forced labor, and the dumping of bodies at sea have been made.

Despite these challenges, the new regulations represent a significant step forward in addressing the issue of illegal fishing by China's distant-water fleet. Only time will tell if these new rules will lead to real change and help protect the world's oceans and the species that call them home.