China News Service, March 22. On the 22nd, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a press conference on the "China Fishery Policy Sword" law enforcement action. In response to the effects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ adjustment to the marine summer fishing moratorium system in 2023, Wang Xintai, deputy director of the Fisheries and Fisheries Administration Bureau and first-level inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, responded at the meeting that surveys in some key areas showed that 91.12% of the respondents believe that the overall situation of the fishing moratorium in 2023 is good.
Wang Xintai pointed out that the marine mid-season fishing moratorium is an important means of conservation and management of marine fishery resources in my country. From May 1 to September 16 every year, except for a few operating methods and chartered fishing, all marine fishing vessels and supporting auxiliary vessels are implemented Phased fishing moratorium. In 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has adjusted and optimized the marine mid-season fishing moratorium system, and implemented special fishing for four types of fishing vessels in the East China Sea: gillnets, shrimp trawlers, cage pots, and light seine nets. The fishing opening times in each sea area have been further unified. The scope of special fishing has been further expanded. In accordance with the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, relevant localities have refined fishing implementation plans, strictly implemented systems such as special markings, reports on entry and exit of fishing ports, fixed landings of catches, and dynamic monitoring of ship positions, and strengthened supervision throughout the entire process.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs organized three provinces and one city in the East China Sea District to carry out a surprise operation in the East China Sea. Under unified command and coordination across the region, 20 illegal fishing boats were investigated and punished, 216 people were involved, and more than 200 tons of illegal catches were confiscated. The results were outstanding. The fishery administration, public security, and coast guard departments along the coast focused on important periods and key areas, strengthened clue investigation, and thoroughly investigated a number of major and important cases, effectively deterring criminals.
Wang Xintai said that surveys in some key areas showed that 91.12% of the respondents believed that the overall situation of the fishing moratorium in 2023 was good. After recuperation, proliferation and release during the summer season, the resources of most species have increased, including Portunus trituberculatus. , China's shrimp catch capacity are all at relatively high levels over the same period in the past decade.
Wang Xintai mentioned that this year, the Fisheries and Fisheries Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will continue to make up for shortcomings, strengthen weak areas, improve quality and efficiency, and adhere to the strictest supervision of fishing moratorium during the winter season.
The first is to strengthen maritime inspections, keep an eye on key objects such as fishing boats, high-speed boats, and breeding fishing boats seized by the court, and focus on two key sea areas near 35 degrees north latitude and 26 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, and closely follow the opening of fishing and four types of operations in each sea area. At important time points such as the start of special fishing, we must strictly prevent illegal fishing, cross-region and cross-line operations and other illegal activities.
The second is to optimize special fishing management measures, refine and summarize experience, further study management system implementation measures, improve the effect of special fishing management, and ensure that special fishing is more standardized and orderly. Strengthen the management and control of resource survey vessels and supervise their strict implementation of management systems such as entry and exit reporting and fixed-point landing of catches to ensure proper disposal of catches and prevent them from flowing into the market.
The third is to thoroughly implement the fishing moratorium system at the port of registration, strictly implement the control requirements for ships returning to the port, people landing, and net entry into the warehouse, establish a list of fishing vessels subject to fishing moratoriums on a county-by-district basis, and implement port-based ship management, appointment of joint ships, ship position reporting, and regular Management systems such as inspections and weekly information reports will be implemented to effectively strengthen the supervision of vessels berthed in fishing ports. Anyone found to have failed to return to the port of home for fishing as required shall return to the port of home within a time limit and be punished in accordance with laws and regulations.
The fourth is to comprehensively carry out dynamic monitoring of vessel positions, make full use of the national fishing vessel dynamic monitoring system, mark special fishing vessel information on a vessel-by-vessel basis, carry out real-time monitoring of dynamic vessel positions, screen and judge illegal fishing vessels around the clock, and report to local authorities for verification and disposal in accordance with the law.