Wednesday, July 29, 2020

South China Sea: China's 'dark fleet' now targeting Sea of Japan

A study published in the journal Science Advances this week exposes a 'Dark Fleet' - fishing trawlers with their identity and location transponders turned off - operating in the Sea of Japan.

"The scale of the fleet involved in this illegal fishing is about one-third the size of China's entire distant water fishing fleet. It is the largest known case of illegal fishing perpetrated by vessels originating from one country operating in another nation's waters."

In June this year, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea's Paracel Islands.

Earlier this year, that claim reached as far south as Indonesia - with a Chinese fishing fleet supported by navy-controlled coast guard vessels intruding on Natuna island.

KILLER CATCH. Once in North Korean waters, the Illuminating Dark Fishing Fleets report says the Chinese trawlers show no regard for sustainable fishing practices.

SHADOW NAVY. The Sea of Japan isn't the only location 'dark' Chinese fishing fleets have been observed.

"As they race to pull the last fish from the South China Sea, fishers stand at least as much chance of triggering a violent clash as do the region's armed forces," the report reads.

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