BEIJING: China will carry out voluntary fishing moratoriums in certain parts of high seas this year, said a circular released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
It said a fishing moratorium would be launched in certain parts of international waters of north Indian Ocean on a trial basis for the first time.
Fishing bans in the high seas of the southwest Atlantic and north Indian Ocean will take place between July 1 and Sept 30, while the fishing moratorium in east Pacific open sea will run from Sept 1 to Nov 30.
During the fishing moratorium, all Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, including squid boats and trawlers, will stop fishing in related waters, said the ministry.
Since 2020, China has implemented voluntary fishing bans on key high seas fishing grounds.
The fishing ban in the past two years has involved 70 Chinese distant-water fishing firms and around 1,500 squid boats and trawlers, and no illegal fishing activities were found. — Xinhua
