Chinese vessels and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the Pacific coast of South America.

Authors: Jenne, N., Rehner, J., & Quispe, L. (2024)

Abstract: This policy brief summarizes the challenge posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the Pacific coast of South America, focusing on the Chinese fleet. The Chinese fleet currently plays a dominant role in high-seas fishing, a significant portion of which is considered IUU fishing, with serious economic, environmental, and humanitarian implications. In recent years, various groups have criticized the activities of Chinese vessels in the Pacific due to their illegal nature. However, the cases of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador demonstrate that the focus of the problem is not only on illegal actions but also on the lack of regulation of activities on the high seas near Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). New technological tools, especially from Global Fishing Watch (GFW), provide options for substantial improvements in monitoring high seas activities, which would increase pressure on companies and countries to disclose specific regulations and enhance transparency in the management of common goods.

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