China Refuses to Sign Agreement to Combat Illegal Fishing

China has refused to sign an agreement aimed at improving efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The agreement, known as the Mombasa Declaration, was signed by several African countries and other nations during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya in June. The Mombasa Declaration supports the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which aims to improve governance by modernizing digital vessel registries, publishing fishing licenses, authorizations, access agreements, and quota allocations. It also aims to ensure that all industrial fishing vessels have unique vessel identifiers and collect information on the beneficial owners of vessels and fishing companies to target and hold accountable illegal fishing violators. The agreement is particularly significant for African countries, where the issue of IUU fishing is a major concern. According to the IUU Fishing Risk Index, China is the world's worst illegal fishing offender, and its distant-water fishing fleet is the largest in the world. Chinese vessels have operated illegally in African waters for decades, causing significant economic losses for the region. In West Africa alone, the estimated annual loss due to illegal Chinese overfishing is up to $9.4 billion. Between 2015 and 2021, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania lost up to $142.8 million annually due to illegal shrimp and tuna fishing, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Mombasa Declaration is meant to combat these violations, including bottom trawling, which involves dragging a net along the sea floor, indiscriminately scooping up all manner of marine life. This kills juvenile fish, leading to declining fish stocks and destroys ecosystems. The countries that signed the declaration are expected to begin implementing their commitments immediately. Catherine Chabaud, French minister delegate for the sea and fisheries, said international cooperation is essential in the fight against illegal fishing. "Stronger access to reliable fisheries data and accountability mechanisms are essential to protecting marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them," Chabaud said. Environmental groups have lauded the effort, with Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch, saying that illegal fishing has continued due to weak oversight. "For too long, illegal fishing has thrived in the dark," Long said. "When governments commit to transparency, they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide." The conference was marred by claims that Taiwanese representatives were not allowed to attend due to Chinese pressure on Kenya. Although Taiwan is self-ruled, Beijing claims it as its own territory, and China prohibits its diplomatic partners from maintaining formal ties with Taiwan.