The Success of Seasonal Fishing Closures in Marine Waters
In a recent interview, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs highlighted significant successes achieved through this year’s seasonal fishing closures in marine waters. The initiative has proven effective in conserving nearshore fishery resources and has begun to alleviate trends of resource decline.
Fishing management authorities have implemented various measures over recent years to safeguard marine resources. The Ministry has introduced a series of new policies aimed at enhancing the conservation and sustainable utilization of fisheries.
One key step has been the optimization and adjustment of the seasonal fishing closure system. Currently, from early May to mid-September, different marine zones in China enforce closures for varying durations, extending up to 4.5 months in some areas. Under a total volume management system for marine fishery resources, the overall domestic marine catch is limited to 10 million tons, and the number of large and medium-sized fishing vessels is capped at 50,000.
Additionally, the construction of marine ranches has been prioritized, along with efforts to release juvenile fish and manage genetic resource protection areas. So far, the country has established 169 national marine ranches and has introduced more than 20 million cubic meters of artificial reefs, releasing over 20 billion various marine species annually, which effectively boosts and restores nearshore fishing resources.
Protection efforts also extend to endangered marine wildlife. The National People’s Congress has amended wildlife protection laws, and the Ministry has implemented conservation action plans for flagship species such as the spotted seal, sea turtles, and the Chinese white dolphin. Since 2021, over 1,300 individuals of these species have been released after being rescued or confiscated.
“With the ongoing implementation of these measures, we’ve seen promising results in the conservation of China’s nearshore fishery resources,” noted Liu Xinzhong, the director of the Fisheries Regulation Management Bureau. Research surveys have shown that, while there have been slight fluctuations in fishery resource levels over different years, the overall trend is stable. Some species have even shown consistent improvement. From 2018 to 2023, nearshore catch remained stable at around 9.5 million tons, with several economically important species maintaining stable or even increasing catch volumes.
Data collected from fishing activities this year indicates the diversity of catches has improved significantly since the reopening of fishing. In the South China Sea, for example, the daily catch per vessel has notably increased post-closure, with shellfish catch increasing by 9.4 times, crabs by 3.7 times, and cephalopods by 2.3 times.
The fishing closure isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. During the seasonal closure period, special economic species and certain types of operations are permitted under a supplementary regulation. Typically, these are short-lived species with fast growth rates and healthy populations. Scientific assessments deem that appropriate catch levels for these species do not harm resources, allowing for the full utilization of fishery resources, ensuring quality seafood supply, increasing fishermen’s incomes, and enhancing community food sources.
Since special catch operations began in 2017, the range of permitted species and operation types has expanded, and management has become more standardized. Liu Xinzhong reported that this year there were nine special economic species and four types of operations under permit, with over 20,000 vessels licensed to partake in these special operations. Preliminary statistics indicate that this year’s special fishing operations yielded approximately 400,000 tons, valued at around 7 billion yuan, effectively promoting both resource protection and reasonable use.
Strict enforcement has been pivotal in ensuring the efficacy of the seasonal fishing closure system. In recent years, collaborative enforcement actions by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the China Coast Guard have intensified efforts against illegal fishing activities. They have focused on regulating special catch operations while maintaining order during the seasonal closures.
“In our vast 3 million square kilometers of marine territory, effective law enforcement is challenging. However, we prioritize addressing major violative cases that are socially impactful to maximize regulatory effectiveness,” explained Sun Haiwen, deputy director of the Fisheries Regulation Management Bureau. Notably, a joint enforcement operation in mid-August led to the seizure of over 87,000 boxes of illegal catch, targeting the entire profit chain of illegal fishing activities.
The overall enforcement actions have successfully created a deterrent effect against illegal activities. Liu reported that during this year’s seasonal closures, a total of 9,770 illegal cases were addressed, with 1,176 referred for judicial processing and 4,139 individuals held criminally responsible—a decrease in all three categories compared to previous years. As a result, the number of violations disrupting seasonal fishing regulations has significantly declined. Efforts to raise public awareness about the laws and regulations governing seasonal fishing closures have also become more prevalent through various channels, ensuring that the understanding of this system permeates deeper into society.
