IV. Strictly Regulating the DWF Sector

China executes the world's strictest management measures and regulations to monitor and position distant-water fishing vessels, and adopts a "zero tolerance" attitude towards illegal fishing. By reinforcing monitoring and management mechanisms and capabilities, China has made notable progress on critical issues and in priority areas such as monitoring and managing distant-water fishing vessels, managing crews, conducting monitoring and control over key sea areas, reinforcing capacity to regulate DWF, and ensuring overall stability in production of the sector. 

1. Actively monitoring and regulating transshipments on the high seas

Based on the effective implementation of regulations formulated by RFMOs, China has begun to fully and independently monitor and regulate transshipments conducted by distant-water fishing vessels on the high seas since 2020. It has established a new platform that manages all distant-water fishing vessels, requiring a permit before and a report after a transshipment, and has begun to dispatch onboard observers or install onboard video surveillance systems. In April 2021, for the first time observers authorized by the Chinese government boarded distant-water fishing vessels to supervise transshipments on the high seas. In May 2022, China attended the Technical Consultation on the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment, and contributed to the successful conclusion of the consultation and the adoption of the guidelines. 

2. Further regulating seafood imports and exports

China always strictly regulates seafood imports and exports, and actively fulfills its obligations as a market state. In accordance with the conservation and management measures stipulated by relevant RFMOs, China verifies the legitimacy of imports and exports of bigeye tuna, swordfish, bluefin tuna and Antarctic toothfish, including products caught by Chinese DWF vessels. As requested by importing countries and regions such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), Chile and the EU and by exporting countries such as Russia, China verifies the legitimacy of imported and exported seafood, and conducts investigations and gives feedback in line with the verification requirements of relevant countries to ensure that all imported and exported catches are obtained through legal and regulated fishing. For species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), China conducted introduction from the sea according to the requirements. 

3. Resolute action against illegal fishing 

China strictly regulates DWF, shows "zero tolerance" for illegal fishing, and severely punishes via legislation and administrative means any distant-water fishing vessel and company that has engaged in illegal fishing. China will carry out full-scale investigations on any report made by other countries and international organizations against suspicious activities conducted by Chinese distant-water fishing vessels. Should a violation be confirmed, the vessel responsible and the vessel owner(s) will be severely punished, and the result will be announced appropriately. Since 2016, six fishing companies have had their distant-water fishing enterprise qualification revoked, and 22 companies have been suspended from distant-water fishing. Punishments resulting from different violations imposed on vessels and skippers have included cancellation of all DWF projects, suspension of all DWF projects, a ban on applying for new DWF projects, and the imposition of fines, with total financial penalties exceeding RMB1 billion. 

China resolutely supports and actively joins in the efforts made by the international community to curb illegal fishing. Starting from 2020, China dispatches law enforcement vessels every year to conduct fishery patrols and deal with illegal fishing activities on the high seas of the North Pacific. In 2016, along with the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), China impounded and penalized a foreign vessel that conducted an illegal transshipment of Antarctic toothfish. Since 2018, China has begun to inform its domestic ports of vessels blacklisted for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by RFMOs to which China belongs, to ban these vessels from entering ports to land their catches, obtain supplies and refuel. 

4. Championing the high seas boarding and inspection regime

China systematically supports the high seas boarding and inspection performed within the frameworks of RFMOs, with the aim of combating illegal fishing and effectively implementing conservation and management measures. China requires all Chinese fishing vessels to accept the high seas boarding and inspection carried out pursuant to regulations formulated by RFMOs. 

In 2020, China began to register China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with the North Pacific Fisheries Commission to obtain the right to board and inspect vessels on the high seas of the North Pacific to fulfill its obligations as a member state. Starting from 2021, China has sent the CCG vessels to carry out boarding and inspection on the high seas of the North Pacific and has taken steps pursuant to legitimate procedures to dispatch law enforcement vessels to sea areas under the jurisdiction of other RFMOs, working with the international community to play its part in combating illegal fishing on the high seas.