WASHINGTON 鈥 US President Joseph R. Biden on Monday signed a national security memorandum to fight illegal fishing, part of pledged efforts to help countries combat alleged violations by fishing fleets, including those of China.
The White House said in a statement that it would also launch an alliance with Canada and the United Kingdom to 鈥渢ake urgent action鈥 to improve monitoring, control and surveillance in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
US officials have vowed to introduce policies to better battle illegal fishing, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, as part of stepped up engagement with the region to counter China鈥檚 growing influence.
Some countries in the region chafe at China鈥檚 vast fishing fleet, arguing its vessels often violate their 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and cause environmental damage and economic losses.
Senior US administration officials told reporters at a briefing that the memorandum directs agencies to work toward 鈥渆nding human trafficking, including forced labor… while promoting safe, sustainable use of the ocean.鈥
The Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, the US Coast Guard and other enforcement agencies would engage with private and foreign partners to 鈥渋nvestigate fishing vessels and operators expected to be harvesting seafood with forced labor,鈥 the official said.
The effort was not targeted at any specific country, but the official said China was one of the largest violators.
鈥淭he PRC (People鈥檚 Republic of China) is a leading contributor to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing worldwide, and has impeded progress on the development of measures to combat IUU fishing and overfishing in international organizations,鈥 the official said.
鈥淭he PRC has a responsibility to uphold these commitments as a flag state and actively monitor and correct… fishing fleet activities in other countries鈥 waters,鈥 she said.
China says it is a responsible fishing country that has been cooperating internationally to clamp down on illegal fishing, and that it fishes in relevant EEZs according to bilateral agreements.
鈥淭he US accusation is completely untrue and does nothing to protect the marine environment and promote international cooperation in sustainable fishery,鈥 Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China鈥檚 embassy in Washington, said in a statement.
Earlier in June, the Philippines accused China of illegal fishing in its EEZ, a complaint backed by the US State Department
The US Coast Guard has said illegal fishing has outpaced piracy as the top global maritime security threat, and risks heightening tensions among countries vying for overexploited fishing stocks.
US Indo-Pacific policy coordinator Kurt Campbell said in May countries in the region were cooperating to step up patrolling and training efforts, as well as sharing technologies to track vessels engaged in illegal fishing that turn off electronic transponders. 鈥 Reuters
