VII. Increasing International Cooperation on Fisheries

The sustainability of fisheries resources is currently threatened by climate and environmental change, creating new trends in cross-regional distribution, mobility, and migrations. International cooperation on fisheries management must therefore be strengthened. Committed to the vision of a maritime community of shared future, China has increased exchanges with other countries and regions in the DWF sector, launched mutually beneficial cooperation projects through multiple channels and in multiple forms, strengthened multilateral and bilateral intergovernmental fisheries cooperation mechanisms, and helped the fishing industry to develop in other countries and regions. 

1. Participating in global fisheries governance

China has played an active role in multilateral fisheries governance within the framework of the UN, and supported calls for a fairer and more equitable global fisheries governance system. It is actively seeking to join the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, and has engaged in the research of fisheries treaties like the IMO Cape Town Agreement of 2012 (on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977). In addition to registering its high seas fishing vessels in the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels, it has increased cooperation with the IMO and required its DWF vessels to apply and register for IMO identification numbers. 

In recent years, the international community has paid close attention to fisheries subsidies. China firmly supports the multilateral trading system and conforms to the general trend of fisheries subsidies negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Over the years, China has actively participated in the fisheries subsidies negotiations of the WTO with the aim of facilitating talks, cooperation and solution. It tries its best to take care of the interests of all participants and the demands of developing members, strives to bridge the differences among members, puts forward suggestions for text revisions, actively responds to the opinions of other members, and demonstrates flexibility, making an active contribution to the final conclusion of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. On June 27, 2023, China submitted its instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to the WTO. It will fully implement its provisions and actively participate in the follow-up negotiations.

China attaches great importance to communication with NGOs like the World Wide Fund for Nature and Greenpeace on sustainable fisheries management, actions against illegal fishing, and other issues, and incorporated their sound proposals into its measures for voluntary fishing moratoria on the high seas and the conservation of squid resources. 

2. Taking part in regional fisheries management

To show its commitment to expanding and strengthening regional fisheries cooperation, China has fulfilled its obligations as a member of RFMOs. It has made its due and voluntary financial contributions without delay to support their functions and efforts. To contribute Chinese solutions and strengths to their activities, it has organized relevant departments, scientific research institutes, industry associations, and representative companies to take part in the work of RFMOs, in the research and formulation of conservation and management measures, and in the exploration, evaluation and scientific research of fisheries resources. In order to improve fisheries governance in different regions, China has also increased communication and cooperation with RFMOs and their members. 

3. Engaging in bilateral fisheries cooperation

China has made sustained efforts to increase bilateral cooperation through dialogue and exchanges, and set up a number of bilateral dialogue and negotiation mechanisms with Russia, the ROK, Japan, Vietnam, the US, Argentina, New Zealand, the EU and other countries and regions to promote mutual interests and combat illegal fishing. It has established communications with Indonesia, Panama, Peru, Ecuador and other countries and regions in terms of bilateral fisheries cooperation, regional fisheries governance, the fight against illegal fishing, protection of bycatch species, and ecological and environmental conservation in key sea areas like the Galapagos Islands. China has engaged in mutually beneficial fisheries cooperation with over 40 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania, and encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in these countries, which has increased local jobs and boosted economic growth. 

4. Supporting other developing countries in fisheries development

Committed to the vision of a maritime community of shared future, China has implemented the Belt and Road Initiative and promoted South-South cooperation. It has always done all it can to provide technological and personnel assistance to other developing countries - especially small island developing states and the least developed countries - to help them develop their fisheries and local communities. Its assistance for developing countries covers fisheries infrastructure, resource exploration, skill training, artisanal and small-scale fisheries, and the development of aquaculture, processing and trade. China supports reasonable proposals from developing countries on multilateral issues, and defends their rights and interests. 

5. Promoting sustainable development of global fisheries

The international community has a common understanding that fisheries play an important role in safeguarding global food and nutrition security and providing a livelihood for the people living in coastal areas. China attaches great importance to the sustainable development of global fisheries. It believes that developing aquaculture can increase food supplies and protect food security in developing countries while reducing dependence on wild fisheries resources. China is the largest processor and exporter of aquatic products. Its aquaculture output has led the world for 32 years, making a contribution to world food security. 

On the basis of equality and mutual benefit, China will work with other countries to improve multilateral consultation mechanisms, strengthen scientific and technological communication, expand economic and trade cooperation, combat illegal fishing, and promote scientific conservation and sustainable use of global fisheries resources. It will do all it can to safeguard global food security and contribute to the wellbeing of people living in coastal areas. It defends a fair and reasonable international maritime order, and firmly opposes unilateralism, protectionism, power politics, acts of bullying, and unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law.