source
A report published by environmental organization Greenpeace stated that Chinese companies have been illegally fishing off the coast of West Africa. The non-governmental organization found 114 cases of illegal fishing over a span of eight years in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The numbers have been increasing in the last few decades.
Accused of a double standard
Chinese authorities have been attempting to regulate their fishing policies while illegal fishing in West Africa has increased. Greenpeace Africa ocean campaigner Ahmed Diame said:
“While the Chinese government is starting to eliminate some of the most destructive fishing practices in its own waters, the loopholes in existing policies lead to a double standard in Africa.”
This is happening as China has been making an effort to invest in many African countries, in hopes of creating mutually beneficial partnerships. Head of Greenpeace East Asia’s China ocean campaign Rashid Kang said that the Chinese vessels were
“taking advantage of weak enforcement and supervision from local and Chinese authorities to the detriment of local fishermen and the environment. Unless the government reins in this element of rogue companies, they will seriously jeopardize what the Chinese government calls its mutually-beneficial partnership with West Africa.”
{adinserter CNP5}
The countries are losing money
There has been an increase in the demand for fish around the world. West Africa has become a target for illegal fishing. This not only hurts the environment, it also hurts the economy. Every year, the region loses $1.3bn worth of fish to illegal fishing. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that revenue that could be used to improve infrastructure in these countries is being drained by illegal and unregulated fishing.
“Investing in infrastructure will certainly be expensive”, he said. “But at least some of the costs of filling Africa’s massive infrastructure financing gap could be covered if the runaway plunder of Africa’s natural resources is brought to a stop. Across the continent, this plunder is prolonging poverty amidst plenty. It has to stop, now.”
China took advantage of chaos caused by Ebola
The Greenpeace report also states that China took advantage of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa:
“Not only are they exporting the destructive fishing model that destroyed China’s own fisheries, but some irresponsible Chinese companies were stealing fish from African countries affected by Ebola outbreak as its government was conducting one of the biggest aid programmes to support these African countries to confront a major local public health crisis.”
So while China came to West Africa’s aid during the outbreak, Chinese companies were simultaneously exploiting the waters. However, Dalian Bo Yaun Overseas Fishery – one of the companies named in the report – has repudiated the claim and said Greenpeace has no evidence.
SEE ALSO: China Cedes To Pressure And Decides To Ban Ivory Trade Within A Year.
