The overhaul marks a significant step in aligning its practices with this landmark international accord under the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
CHINA – The Chinese government has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its national fisheries law, the most extensive revision in over two decades.
The proposed changes, now under review by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, aim to modernise domestic fisheries management, align with international norms, and curtail illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Unveiled in December 2024, the reform package introduces amendments to 48 of the law’s existing 50 articles and adds 32 new ones, including a full chapter on fisheries supervision.
The overhaul follows China’s ratification of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) in April and marks a significant step in aligning its practices with this landmark international accord under the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
“Revising the law was necessary to meet PSMA standards,” said Liu Xinzhong, head of the fisheries bureau at the agriculture ministry. “This move supports our continuous fight against IUU fishing through improved port management and interdepartmental cooperation.”
With nearly 500,000 fishing vessels and 16 million people reliant on the sector, the proposed changes could have far-reaching implications. The draft includes provisions to digitise fishing ports, create a permitted fishing gear directory, introduce fishery insurance policies, and enhance catch traceability.
Environmental advocates largely welcomed the reform’s focus on sustainability but flagged concerns over weak enforcement language and implementation feasibility.
“This draft clearly prohibits ‘three-no’ vessels, those without registration, monitoring devices or port authorisation, from fishing and from circulating their catch,” said Ling Cao, a fisheries researcher at Xiamen University. “It also establishes penalties, which is a first in superior law.”
Illegal fishing inspires reforms
The long-standing problem of unregistered vessels remains central to the reform. According to Zhang Yanxuedan, associate professor at Shanghai Ocean University, previous efforts lacked the legal backing needed for effective enforcement.
The new law would ban unregistered boats from receiving essential supplies such as fuel and ice without verified documentation, effectively cutting off their operational lifeline.
Another key element is the push for traceability. The law “encourages” designated port unloading and record-keeping to track fish from net to plate.
Greenpeace East Asia campaigner Huang Shan expressed disappointment that this was downgraded from a stronger 2019 draft that included mandatory labelling.
The law also aims to shift gear regulation from a blacklist to a whitelist system. By defining only permitted gear types, this strategy could close loopholes that fishers exploit by modifying prohibited equipment.
However, some warn that cracking down on IUU practices without providing alternatives could harm subsistence fishers.
“While fish stocks are dwindling, many coastal fishers have no other means of income,” said Tong Yuhe, a lecturer at Hainan Tropical Ocean University.
He advocates for provisions supporting job transitions, including potentially legalising and regulating recreational fishing tourism.
Beyond capture fisheries, the reform also addresses aquaculture, promoting “energy-saving” and “environmentally friendly” farming methods.
Wang Songlin of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society praised this vision and urged stricter controls on drug use and wastewater discharge in fish farms.
He also recommended shifting away from wild-caught feed ingredients to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems.
The draft law was open for public consultation until January 23, 2025, and is expected to undergo two or three rounds of review by the standing committee before final passage.
According to Zhang, the revision’s challenge lies in balancing resource protection, industry regulation, and fishers’ livelihoods.
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