V. Reinforcing Scientific and Technological Support for the DWF Sector

China engages in scientific surveys of high seas fisheries resources, participates in research initiatives led by RFMOs, and progressively upgrades fishing vessels and equipment. These efforts reflect China's commitment to scientific and technological innovation, transformation and upgrading, and high-quality development and efficiency in the fishing sector. The National Plan for Fisheries Development in the 14th Five-Year Plan Period sets a target to increase the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress in the sector from 63 percent in 2020 to 67 percent by 2025.

1. Improving scientific and technological support framework

China's DWF management is based on scientific principles. It aims to establish and improve a comprehensive management and compliance technology support system, where competent authorities, industry associations, and scientific research institutes collaborate to develop management strategies, implement effective management measures, and evaluate their outcomes. Industry associations play a crucial role in organizing and coordinating fisheries operation, standardizing corporate behavior, providing employee training, strengthening industry self-discipline, and promoting best practices. To further ensure compliance, China has established a DWF compliance research center and a DWF data center. Additionally, efforts have been made to improve the mechanism for compliance and to strengthen scientific research institutions and think tanks, steadily improving the capacity and effectiveness of compliance.

2. Advancing information technology in the DWF sector

China actively promotes the mechanization, automation, and digitalization of distant-water fishing vessels. It invests in the research and development and application of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. Work is under way to adapt the BeiDou intelligent monitoring application system specifically for use in the sector. China is also participating in the research and testing of video surveillance systems for distant-water fishing vessels and contributing to the formulation of standards and specifications for the installation of video surveillance equipment on such vessels. The gradual rollout of pilot programs on key fish species and regional fishing vessels is being carried out. Furthermore, China actively engages in sharing its experimental experience in developing electronic monitoring/observation standards for RFMOs. In May 2023, China supported the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission's resolution on electronic monitoring standards, marking the first management measure of its kind in regional tuna fisheries management organizations. Currently, more than 100 tuna fishing vessels - accounting for approximately 20 percent of all tuna fishing vessels in China - have been equipped with electronic monitoring systems.

3. Improving the survey and monitoring of DWF resources

Fisheries resource assessment and management recommendations depend on scientific data, and conducting resource surveys and monitoring is an internationally recognized method of obtaining reliable firsthand scientific data. From the 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025), China has implemented a systematic plan for surveying and monitoring DWF resources. The objective is to provide scientific and data support for the conservation and sustainable development of resources. This involves deploying professional scientific survey vessels to conduct comprehensive scientific surveys of fisheries resources in the high seas of the Northwest Pacific and the West and Central Pacific Ocean. Additionally, China encourages scientific research institutions to collaborate with DWF companies to conduct trial fishing on fisheries resources. The survey findings are shared with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and the survey research results continue to be submitted to provide a scientific foundation for resource assessment and the formulation of management measures. China actively cooperates with other countries involved to conduct scientific surveys of fisheries resources, thereby promoting the conservation and long-term sustainable use of fisheries resources in such countries' waters. Furthermore, China is conducting a monitoring and evaluation project for significant global fish species resources. Research and monitoring activities focus on the population status of economically important fish species, bycatch species, and protected species. A database system is in place to provide scientific references for production management and resource conservation.

4. Conducting innovative research to formulate independent conservation management measures

China combines domestic and foreign research results with up-to-date information on its DWF development. Through collaborative efforts involving the government, industry, universities and research institutes, China actively conducts innovative research and formulates independent measures to conserve and manage fisheries resources. In June 2020, China issued management regulations to strengthen the conservation of high seas squid resources and promote the sustainable development of DWF. Measures included squid resource surveys and assessment, implementation of voluntary fishing moratoria for high seas squid fisheries, and research on the management system of the entire squid industry chain. China is actively exploring the compilation of DWF indexes to improve resource assessment capability, standardize practices, and guide sustainable industry development. Initiated with the squid as a pilot species, the oceanic squid index of China was developed and launched in 2020. This comprehensive index incorporates the squid resource abundance index, squid price index, and industry prosperity index, providing detailed and dynamic data to monitor squid products and the overall development of the distant-water squid fishery sector. In the next phase, work will be directed to studying and releasing the tuna fishery development index.

5. Carrying out timely research and adaptation of international conservation management measures

China emphasizes the importance of resource assessment and utilizing the best scientific evidence when making conservation management recommendations and formulating management measures. It actively engages in research on scientific management recommendations proposed by RFMOs. Additionally, China supports the participation of scientific researchers in various scientific conferences and their involvement in relevant scientific organizations. Focusing on resource assessment, China carries out research on fish population biology, ecosystem management, and the evaluation of fishing moratorium effects. China also actively participates in relevant research programs and submits a variety of research reports. In addition, it conducts in-depth studies on conservation and management measures adopted by RFMOs. China has issued documents on the conservation and management measures adopted by tuna fisheries organizations, the North Pacific Fisheries Commission and the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. These measures are promptly incorporated into relevant domestic management regulations to strengthen fisheries management and ensure compliance with international obligations.