Chinese Distant-Water Fleet Dominates Global Fishing Activity, Raising Sustainability and Human Rights Concerns

A recent analysis by Oceana reveals that China's distant-water fishing (DWF) fleet accounted for 44% of the world's visible fishing activity between 2022 and 2024, involving an estimated 57,000 industrial vessels. This extensive global footprint has drawn significant scrutiny, with environmental organizations and international bodies raising alarms about widespread overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, and human rights abuses.

Concerns about China's DWF fleet were highlighted by social media personality Winston Sterzel, who stated in a recent tweet, > "No one seems to care that China is raping the seas and fishing them dry around the entire world.. my question is why?" This sentiment echoes reports from organizations like the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), which describe China's DWF fleet as "rife with human rights abuses and illegal fishing."

The sheer scale of China's DWF operations, supported by substantial state subsidies, allows its vessels to operate across the globe, often in the waters of developing nations with limited monitoring capacities. The EJF reports that 95% of interviewed crew members aboard Chinese DWF vessels witnessed some form of illegal fishing, including the finning of sharks and the killing of protected species. Furthermore, 58% reported experiencing or witnessing physical violence, and 97% experienced debt bondage or confiscation of documents.

Beyond environmental and human rights issues, China's DWF fleet is increasingly viewed through a geopolitical lens. The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) highlights that China is the only nation that utilizes its DWF fleet as an extension of its maritime security forces and foreign policy, particularly in disputed areas like the South China Sea. This dual-use nature complicates international efforts to regulate fishing activities and enforce maritime laws.

The European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) notes the large discrepancy in estimates of China's DWF fleet size, with figures ranging from 900 "visible" vessels to over 16,000 when considering "invisible" vessels and those flagged to other countries but beneficially owned by Chinese operators. This lack of transparency further exacerbates the challenges in monitoring and regulating the fleet's activities, impacting global fish stocks and the livelihoods of local fishing communities worldwide.