Tougher Rules for Fishing Fleets for a Better Future of Ocean Life

Following years of illegal fishing activities, China is giving its estimated 2,900 fishing vessels new rules to respect, in an effort to increase transparency and promote more sustainable practices.

“China is the country that will shape what the future of ocean health becomes,” says Douglas McCauley, professor of marine biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “No other nation has more say as to what will become of the future of our ocean.”

Where paying a fine was once enough to get away from committing illegal fishing activities such as shark finning and targeting endangered species, the country is now implementing harsher punishments, like stricter certification requirements, clarification of penalties, responsibilities and enforcement of measures, while insurance companies are straying away from high-risk businesses.