China Refuses to Sign Agreement to Combat Illegal Fishing

Photo- A Kenyan fisherman displays fish caught near the Lamu archipelago. Africa Defense Forum China has refused to sign an agreement aimed at improving efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. China owns the world's largest fleet of distant-water fishing vessels and is the country with the most illegal fishing globally, according to the IUU fishing risk index. Seven African countries – Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, the Republic of Congo, and Somalia – signed the Mombasa Declaration during the 11th Oceans Conference held in Kenya in June. Belgium, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and South Korea also signed. The agreement aims to enhance governance by modernizing vessel registration systems digitally and making public fishing licenses, permits, maritime access agreements, and fishing area designations. It will also support the Global Tuna Partnership on Fisheries Transparency. Furthermore, it aims to ensure all commercial fishing vessels have unique vessel registration numbers and to collect information on the true beneficial owners of vessels and fishing companies to target and hold illegal fishing operators accountable. "Our existence depends on the fisheries sector," said Emilia Arthur, Ghana's Minister of Fisheries. "More than 60 percent of our protein intake comes from fish, and 10 percent of the population depends on the fisheries value chain for their livelihoods." Arthur further stated that the Mombasa agreement outlines ways "governments can work together to fight for transparency in the fisheries sector." The conference's prestige was tarnished by China's pressure on Kenya and its refusal to allow Taiwanese representatives to attend. China declares Taiwan, which governs itself, as its territory. China prohibits its diplomatic allies from having official relations with Taiwan. China's influence over Kenya may be significant due to debt from railway construction it financed. Kenya spends over a billion US dollars annually to repay its railway debt to China. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Kenya's largest external debt holder is the Export-Import Bank of China, with an outstanding principal of US$741 million, interest of US$222 million, and penalties of US$41 million, according to a 2025 report by Kenya's Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu. Chinese vessels have engaged in illegal fishing in African waters for decades. Primarily due to China's illegal and excessive fishing, West Africa alone loses up to US$9.4 billion annually, making it the region with the highest incidence of illegal fishing. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), between 2015 and 2021, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania lost up to US$142.8 million annually due to illegal shrimp and tuna fishing. Chinese vessels have committed numerous fishing rule violations, including bottom trawling, which indiscriminately catches all marine life along the seabed. This practice leads to the death of many juvenile fish, depletion of fish stocks, and damage to ecosystems. Furthermore, Chinese vessels have illegally entered the exclusive economic zones of other countries to fish and have exploited regional regulations by registering fishing vessels in African countries. This is known as "flag hopping" or "flags of convenience." Shipowners do this to avoid taxation and regulations. These are the violations the Mombasa Declaration aims to combat. Countries that signed the declaration are expected to implement their commitments immediately, and other governments are also expected to join the agreement. Catherine Chabaud, a representative from the French Ministry of the Sea and Fisheries, emphasized the indispensable role of international cooperation in combating illegal fishing. "The lack of transparency in vessel ownership, traceability, fishing processes, and supply chains facilitates these illegal activities. Therefore, increasing access to reliable fisheries data and establishing accountable mechanisms is essential to protect marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them," Chabaud said. Environmental organizations have also praised the initiative. Tony Long, CEO of Global Fishing Watch, stated that illegal fishing continues due to a lack of close oversight. "Illegal fishing has been growing in the dark for a long time," Long told Namibia's New Era Live. "Governments committing to transparency, ensuring that unscrupulous actors have nowhere to hide, creates an interconnected network." Thomas translated China Refuses to Sign Agreement to Combat Illegal Fishing from Africa Defense Forum.