China National Fisheries Corporation

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The China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC) is a Chinese state owned enterprise which operates fisheries related businesses.

Contents

History

CNFC is the major Chinese operator in the distant water fisheries. It sent the first Chinese fishing fleet to West African waters when it sent thirteen trawlers to Guinea-Bissau in 1985. The fleet was seen off by a crowd of more than 1,000. The expansion into distant water fisheries followed a decline in China's coastal fisheries due to overexploitation. [1] The following year, with other Chinese partners, CNFC started trawling operations in the North Pacific. Tuna longlining followed in the South Pacific, and in 1989, squid longlining in the Japan Sea and the North Pacific. [2] CNFC has been a significant beneficiary of corporate subsidies from the Chinese government. [3]

"China has the world's largest distant-water fishing fleet, catching billions of pounds of seafood annually, the biggest portion of it squid. The fleet is rife with labor trafficking, abusive working conditions, and violence." [4]

In 2016 CNFC had to bail out its listed arm CNFC Overseas Fishery Co. due to poor profitability. [5]

In 2022 CNFC completed a four hundred million CNY fundraising round to recapitalize its tuna fleet. [6]

A 2023 report by the Financial Transparency Coalition noted that five CNFC vessels had been accused of human rights abuses. The third most of any Chinese company. [7] [8]

Facilities

In 2019 CNFC opened a tuna processing plant in Vanuatu. [9] [10]

Vessels

In addition to fishing vessels CNFC operates refrigerated cargo vessels. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longline fishing</span> Commercial fishing technique

Longline fishing, or longlining, is a commercial fishing angling technique that uses a long main line with baited hooks attached at intervals via short branch lines called snoods or gangions. A snood is attached to the main line using a clip or swivel, with the hook at the other end. Longlines are classified mainly by where they are placed in the water column. This can be at the surface or at the bottom. Lines can also be set by means of an anchor, or left to drift. Hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks can hang from a single line. This can lead to many deaths of different marine species. Longliners – fishing vessels rigged for longlining – commonly target swordfish, tuna, halibut, sablefish and many other species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bycatch</span> Fish or other marine species that is caught unintentionally

Bycatch, in the fishing industry, is a fish or other marine species that is caught unintentionally while fishing for specific species or sizes of wildlife. Bycatch is either the wrong species, the wrong sex, or is undersized or juveniles of the target species. The term "bycatch" is also sometimes used for untargeted catch in other forms of animal harvesting or collecting. Non-marine species that are caught but regarded as generally "undesirable" are referred to as rough fish or coarse fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overfishing</span> Removal of a species of fish from water at a rate that the species cannot replenish

Overfishing is the removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate greater than that the species can replenish its population naturally, resulting in the species becoming increasingly underpopulated in that area. Overfishing can occur in water bodies of any sizes, such as ponds, wetlands, rivers, lakes or oceans, and can result in resource depletion, reduced biological growth rates and low biomass levels. Sustained overfishing can lead to critical depensation, where the fish population is no longer able to sustain itself. Some forms of overfishing, such as the overfishing of sharks, has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems. Types of overfishing include growth overfishing, recruitment overfishing, and ecosystem overfishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowfin tuna</span> Species of fish

The yellowfin tuna, also known as the Albacore tuna, is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.

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Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Factory ship</span> Large oceangoing fish processing vessel

A factory ship, also known as a fish processing vessel, is a large ocean-going vessel with extensive on-board facilities for processing and freezing caught fish or whales. Modern factory ships are automated and enlarged versions of the earlier whalers, and their use for fishing has grown dramatically. Some factory ships are equipped to serve as a mother ship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in China</span>

China has one-fifth of the world's population and accounts for one-third of the world's reported fish production as well as two-thirds of the world's reported aquaculture production. It is also a major importer of seafood and the country's seafood market is estimated to grow to a market size worth US$53.5 Billion by 2027.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai Union Group</span> Producer of seafood-based food products

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The Fishery Survey of India (FiSI), founded in 1983 by the Government of India's Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, for the fisheries studies, research and survey of the traditional and deep sea fisheries of India within India's Exclusive economic zone, is tasked with the preparation of an annual Fishery Resources Survey and "Assessment and Research Programme" for the sustainable fishery requirements of traditional fishermen, small and medium boat operators and industrial fleet of deep-sea longlining tuna fishing.

Transshipment or transhipment at sea is done by transferring goods such as cargo, personnel, and equipment from one ship to another. It is a common practice in global fisheries and typically takes place between smaller fishing vessels and large specialized refrigerated transport vessels, also referred to as “reefers” that onload catch and deliver supplies if necessary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maritime industries of Taiwan</span>

The maritime industries of Taiwan are a large part of Taiwan's economy. Industries of particular importance are shipbuilding, boat building, maritime transport, aquaculture, mariculture, commercial fishing, seafood processing, offshore wind power and various forms of tourism. Deep sea mining, especially of dormant hydrothermal vents, is also being considered for the future. In 2018 Taiwan was the fourth largest yacht building nation. Taiwan is home to a number of maritime museums and maritime colleges.

FCF Co, Ltd. (FCF) is a privately held Taiwanese seafood conglomerate. They are one of the largest tuna traders in the world.

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Wei Yu 18 is a Chinese fishing vessel which is a part of the distant-water fishing fleet operating primarily in international waters, targeting squid. It has been involved in several controversies related to labor abuses and poor working conditions.

References

  1. Urbina, Ian (9 October 2023). "THE CRIMES BEHIND THE SEAFOOD YOU EAT". The New Yorker. newyorker.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  2. NOAA Central Library (2000) Fishing Industry in China Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Godfrey, Mark. "CNFC benefits from Chinese government's doubling-down on corporate subsidies". seafoodsource.com. Seafood Source. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. White, Cliff. "China fishery firm gets government cash rescue". seafoodsource.com. Seafood Source. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. "China's CNGC Completes $63m Fundraising". undercurrentnews.com. Undercurrent News. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  6. "China leads list of fishing vessel labor abusers". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. Goodman, Joshua (15 November 2023). "China leads list of labor abusers, sometimes akin to slavery, detected on fishing vessels worldwide". apnews.com. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  8. "China National Fishery Corporation opens Vanuatu tuna factory". intrafish.com. Intrafish. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. "Vanuatu Govt launches fish plant with Chinese company". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. Lee Myers, Steven; Chang, Agnes; Watkins, Derek; Fu, Claire (26 September 2022). "How China Targets the Global Fish Supply". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.