Decrease in Fishery Resources in the East China Sea and its Impact

Decrease in Fishery Resources in the East China Sea and its Impact

In the 2020s, the depletion of fishery resources in the East China Sea has become a major issue, primarily due to marine pollution and overfishing, which are causing significant impacts on coastal nations. China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan continue to dispute fishing rights, while the overall catch has been steadily declining.

1. Decline in Major Fish Species
In the East China Sea, catches of important species like redfish and squid have decreased by about 30% compared to the 2010s. These species are vital to the fishing economies of Japan and China, but excessive fishing pressure has pushed resource levels below sustainable limits. In 2022, some fishing grounds were even closed to protect these fishery resources.

2. Fishing Pressure from China
China, the world's largest fishing nation, has major companies like China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC) conducting large-scale operations in the East China Sea. While the Chinese government promotes increased catches to ensure food security, overfishing remains a serious problem. Fishing activities during spawning seasons have significantly reduced the reproductive capacity of fish, contributing to resource depletion.

3. Impact of Marine Pollution
The East China Sea is affected by agricultural fertilizers and industrial wastewater containing excessive nitrogen and phosphorus from China's Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. This nutrient runoff leads to eutrophication, lowering oxygen levels in the water and creating "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive. By the 2020s, the expansion of these dead zones has severely affected coastal fisheries.

4. Increase in Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing is also a growing issue in the East China Sea. Chinese fishing vessels have increasingly been found operating within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. In 2021, Japan's coast guard reported cracking down on around 500 Chinese fishing vessels, escalating tensions between the two nations.

5. Efforts to Manage Fishery Resources
To address the declining fishery resources in the East China Sea, countries have strengthened their resource management efforts. In 2020, China revised its Fisheries Resource Protection Law, shortening fishing seasons and limiting fishing activities in certain areas to protect spawning fish and juvenile fish. Japan, too, has set catch limits for the East China Sea, but it will take time to see resource recovery.

6. Joint Resource Management between China, Japan, and South Korea
China, Japan, and South Korea have been negotiating a framework for joint resource management to ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources in the East China Sea. In 2021, an agreement was reached to regulate catches, and in 2022, fishing moratoriums were established for certain species. However, illegal fishing and conflicts of interest among the nations continue, making it difficult to implement effective management.

Summary
In the 2020s, the East China Sea has seen a decline in fishery resources due to overfishing, marine pollution, and illegal fishing. The fishing rights dispute between China and Japan has intensified. While the Chinese government and major fishing companies have begun to take steps to address overfishing, long-term resource management is still required to resolve the problem.