Chinese maritime fishing fleet expansion is out of control in Latin America
Photo: Squid. Source: Pxhere.com
The PRC’s fleet is one of the largest dedicated to squid fishery, and deploys significant logistics in the supply and transport of high sea catches. This has provoked concern for local fishermen engaged in the activity, as well as various public and private institutions in South America.
In this sense, Global Fishing Watch, the internet monitoring platform of the world’s fishing fleet, plays a fundamental role in making the fleet’s operations visible. It was this platform that, in a matter of weeks, revealed that a Chinese fleet catching giant squid was operating some 60 miles from the border between Peru and Ecuador.
As of 2020, under DS 016-2020-PRODUCE a decree that establishes measures to authorize operations in Peruvian ports and shipyards, vessels catching transboundary resources such as squid must be equipped with a Peruvian satellite tracking system and have operated uninterruptedly for the previous 6 months, in order to be able to pass to port. According to information obtained by RPP Noticias (Radio Programas de Perú), this measure severely restricts the entry of Chinese vessels into the country. However, there are still other reasons to consider: A further increase by this fleet, lack of transparency in the registration of high sea catches in transit, opposition to the increased presence of observers on board and the proximity of fishing operations to certain areas, such as the 200-mile Galapagos border between the Islands and Peru.
Top headline:
RPP Noticias: La desmesurada pesca de pota en altamar.