Global S&T Development Trend Analysis Platform of Resources and Environment
| DOI | 10.1126/science.abf8888 |
| China is pivotal to the ocean's future | |
| Andrew F. Johnson; Susanna Lidström | |
| 2021-01-15 | |
| 发表期刊 | Science
 |
| 出版年 | 2021 |
| 英文摘要 | Since the 1980s, China has developed into the most important player in global capture fisheries; the country now catches about 15% of the global total ([ 1 ][1]). As scientists and environmental groups called for an end to harmful fishing subsidies ([ 2 ][2], [ 3 ][3]), China spent US$5.89 billion in 2018—more than twice that of the European Union—on subsidies that increase fisheries capacity ([ 4 ][4]). However, China has indicated a willingness to make commitments that would move the nation toward a more sustainable path. We call on the country to take these steps. Without China's action, attaining international fisheries sustainability will be unachievable.
China has discussed both domestic and international steps forward. The country pledged to reduce fuel subsidies for its domestic fishing fleet by 60% between 2014 and 2019 ([ 5 ][5]), and in 2016 it stated its intention to cap its distant water fishing fleet at 3000 vessels by the end of 2020 ([ 6 ][6]). In addition, China has taken part in the World Trade Organization (WTO) fishery subsidy negotiations ([ 7 ][7]), and the country's domestic fisheries behavior indicates that it may be poised to ratify the Agreement on Port State Measures ([ 8 ][8]) to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. China is also participating in the UN conference for an international, legally binding instrument to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction ([ 9 ][9]) and has agreed to implement the 2030 Agenda, including Sustainable Development Goal 14. By committing to these international efforts and acting to eliminate harmful subsidies, end IUU fishing, and protect marine biodiversity, China could mark a profound turnaround. Currently the nation with the largest and most heavily subsidized distant water fishing fleet ([ 4 ][4]) and the most fishing vessels on the global IUU list ([ 10 ][10]), China has the opportunity to transform into a global leader in ocean sustainability.
In its position paper on WTO Reform in 2019 ([ 11 ][11]), China's refusal to give up its “developing country” status—despite being the world's second-largest economy—has exacerbated fears that the WTO subsidy negotiations may mean little for the world leader in international fishing. Such side-stepping has also been seen in China's distant water fishing growth strategy, which has slowed in terms of vessel numbers but increased in individual vessel size and capacity ([ 12 ][12]), posing a serious and continued threat to fish stocks globally and signaling a continued unwillingness to collaborate in ocean conservation outside of its domestic waters. The WTO subsidy negotiations missed the December 2020 deadline to end harmful fishing subsidies ([ 7 ][7]). The agreement, now likely to be finalized in early 2021, will be one of the biggest global milestones in international fisheries to date, but meaningful change will depend on China's cooperation.
1. [↵][13]Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “The state of world fisheries and aquaculture: Sustainability in action” (Rome, 2020).
2. [↵][14]World Wildlife Fund, “Ending harmful fisheries subsidies: It's vital for the WTO to take action now” (2019).
3. [↵][15]1. U. R. Sumaila,
2. D. Pauly
, Nature 450, 945 (2007).
[OpenUrl][16][PubMed][17]
4. [↵][18]1. U. R. Sumaila et al
., Mar. Pol. 109, 103695 (2019).
[OpenUrl][19]
5. [↵][20]1. L. Cao
, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 114, 435 (2017).
[OpenUrl][21][Abstract/FREE Full Text][22]
6. [↵][23]Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, “Thirteenth five-year national ocean fishery development plan” (2017); [www.moa.gov.cn/gk/ghjh\_1/201712/t20171227\_6128624.htm][24] [in Chinese].
7. [↵][25]WTO, “Negotiations on fisheries subsidies” (2017).
8. [↵][26]Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA)” (2020); [www.fao.org/iuu-fishing/international-framework/psma/en/][27].
9. [↵][28]UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (2020).
10. [↵][29]Trygg Mat Tracking, “Combined IUU list” (2020); [www.tm-tracking.org/combined-iuu-list][30].
11. [↵][31]WTO, “China's Proposal on WTO Reform” (2019); |
| 领域 | 气候变化 ; 资源环境 |
| URL | 查看原文 |
| 引用统计 | |
| 文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
| 条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/311462 |
| 专题 | 气候变化 资源环境科学 |
| 推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Andrew F. Johnson,Susanna Lidström. China is pivotal to the ocean's future[J]. Science,2021. |
| APA | Andrew F. Johnson,&Susanna Lidström.(2021).China is pivotal to the ocean's future.Science. |
| MLA | Andrew F. Johnson,et al."China is pivotal to the ocean's future".Science (2021). |
| 条目包含的文件 | 条目无相关文件。 | |||||
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