Beijing threatens heavy fines on foreign fishermen activities

The Chinese government has issued a new regulation threatening hefty fines on activities of foreign fishermen in China’s claimed “jurisdictional waters.”

The new policy was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Coast Guard and became effective on Nov. 26 but was only publicized on the government’s website in Chinese on Dec. 23.

The purpose was to standardize the fishery administrative penalties and “to ensure fair, just and reasonable implementation” of the penalties as well as to protect the state’s and citizens’ “legitimate rights and interests,” the government agencies said in an official notice.

One of the punitive measures stipulates that foreign fishermen caught operating without the consent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the  Chinese-claimed exclusive economic zone or continental shelf could be fined up to 400,000 renminbi ($62,700) and expelled by the Coast Guard, and their catch and fishing equipment confiscated.

If foreigners are caught fishing in China’s territorial waters, or very close to the Chinese coast, they could be fined up to 500,000 renminbi ($78,500) and their boats seized.

The new regulation also says if the “illegal activities” are committed at a location where the local government has set a more severe punishment, then the local penalty shall be applied first.

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