China cited in US vow to police fisheries

Nation objects to being called top violator in memo signed by Biden on fighting illicit fishing

US President Joe Biden has signed a national security memorandum to fight illegal fishing, part of efforts to help countries combat alleged violations by fishing fleets, including those of China.

The White House said in a statement that it would also launch an alliance with Canada and Britain to “take urgent action” to improve monitoring, control, and surveillance in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

US officials have vowed to introduce policies to better battle illegal fishing, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, as part of stepped up engagement with the region to counter China’s influence.

Some countries in the region chafe at China’s vast fishing fleet, arguing its vessels often violate their 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and cause environmental damage and economic losses.

Senior US administration officials said at a briefing that the memorandum directed agencies to work towards “ending human trafficking, including forced labour … while promoting safe, sustainable use of the ocean”.

The Department of Labour, the Department of Defence, the United States Coast Guard and other agencies would engage with private and foreign partners to “investigate fishing vessels and operators expected to be harvesting seafood with forced labour”, the official said.

The effort was not targeted at any specific country, but she said China was one of the largest violators.

“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] is a leading contributor to IUU fishing worldwide, and has impeded progress on the development of measures to combat IUU fishing and overfishing in international organisations,” the official said.

“The PRC has a responsibility to uphold these commitments as a flag state and actively monitor and correct … fishing fleet activities in other countries’ waters,” she added.

China says it is a responsible fishing country that has been cooperating internationally to clamp down on illegal fishing, and that it fishes in relevant EEZs according to bilateral agreements.

“The US accusation is completely untrue and does nothing to protect the marine environment and promote international cooperation in sustainable fishery,” Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China’s embassy in Washington, said.

The US Coast Guard has said illegal fishing had outpaced piracy as the top global maritime security threat.