China bans squid catch in some overseas waters with overfishing in spotlight

Three-month halt in designated areas to protect populations of squid, with Chinese boats accounting for up to 70 per cent of the global catch

Ban follows backlash against the country’s fishers, accused of violating sovereign rights of coastal states and damaging ecosystems

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Chinese fishing vessels have been involved in several confrontations in other countries’ waters. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:00am, 5 Aug 2020Updated: 5:35pm, 5 Aug 2020

China has said its fishing fleet, the world’s biggest, has been banned from catching squid in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for three months to help populations recover. It comes as environmental groups and some nations say the country’s fleet is threatening to wipe out some fish populations.

The moratorium, effective from July, bans all Chinese fishing boats from operating in the designated areas, which are spawning grounds for squid – the main catch of the country’s vessels in international waters, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

“The first fishing ban in international waters … shows that China is willingly and proactively collaborating with relevant coastal countries and international organisations in setting up recommendations and measures to protect the marine resources in international seas,” said Liu Yadan, the deputy secretary of the China Agricultural Association for International Exchange.

The ban comes as China faces a backlash over its fishing fleets, most recently for hundreds of vessels that converged around marine sanctuaries off Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador said it registered a complaint about the fleet and informed China’s authorities that Ecuador would defend its maritime rights.

China’s bans on fishing in waters off South America. Map: SCMP

Chinese fishing vessels have also been in confrontations near Africa and the Korean peninsula.

China bans squid catch in some overseas waters with overfishing in spotlight

Three-month halt in designated areas to protect populations of squid, with Chinese boats accounting for up to 70 per cent of the global catch Ban follows backlash against the country’s fishers, accused of violating sovereign rights of coastal states and damaging ecosystems

Three-month halt in designated areas to protect populations of squid, with Chinese boats accounting for up to 70 per cent of the global catch

Ban follows backlash against the country’s fishers, accused of violating sovereign rights of coastal states and damaging ecosystems