China has key role in intl fisheries governance

China has been ramping up efforts to promote sustainable marine fisheries governance in recent years, fulfilling its responsibilities in combating illegal fishing and strengthening international cooperation to build a maritime community with a shared future, officials and experts said recently in Shanghai.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures, or PSMA. Having come into effect in 2016 and now involving 85 parties, including the European Union, the PSMA is the first binding international framework aimed at preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The agreement's effective implementation contributes to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources and marine ecosystems.

China became a party to the agreement in April 2025, a move widely regarded as a significant step in the country's efforts to participate in global marine fisheries governance, fulfill its international obligations and protect marine fishery resources.

A themed event was held at Shanghai Ocean University on Friday to mark International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

In a video address, Matthew Camilleri, a senior fishery officer in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, reviewed key milestones in the agreement's implementation and called for more parties to join in order to enhance its effectiveness.

Xia Liang, a professor at the university, said global fisheries governance has become increasingly complex over the past decade as a result of the combined effects of resource constraints, environmental pollution and climate change.

"While the international community once focused primarily on catch volumes and increasing production, greater emphasis is now being placed on resource conservation, ecosystem protection and sustainable development," Xia said.

"The fundamental characteristics of global fisheries governance have shifted from an emphasis on exploitation and utilization to a stronger focus on conservation, rule-based management and multilateral cooperation, attracting increasing attention worldwide," he added.

Xia, who also serves as head of China's national contact point for the PSMA, highlighted the country's progress in implementing the agreement over the past year, adding that the achievements demonstrate China's commitment to sustainable fisheries governance.

Those achievements include the establishment of interagency coordination mechanisms, revisions to the Fisheries Law, the designation of 23 ports open to foreign fishing vessels and expanded participation in international cooperation.

"The agreement represents a significant practical achievement of multilateralism in the fisheries sector," said Tang Yi, a professor at the university.

"China's accession to the agreement will facilitate deeper engagement in global fisheries governance, promote the improvement of governance rules, strengthen international law enforcement cooperation and advance the sustainable development of global fisheries," Tang said.

Tang and Xia noted that many of China's experiences and practices could contribute to global fisheries governance, including the application of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, strict closed-season regulations, voluntary high-seas fishing moratoriums, and nationwide efforts to combat illegal fishing and ensure fishery safety.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China will further advance the implementation of the agreement, strengthen its port state control system and enhance efforts to combat illegal fishing, while making proactive contributions to the sustainable development of global marine fisheries.