In the early 19th century, the seizure of vessels by North African Barbary pirates became a crisis for the young American republic. President Thomas Jefferson issued instructions in 1802 to his naval commanders: “You are hereby authorized and directed to subdue, seize, and make prize of all vessels, goods, and effects belonging to the [Barbary Pirates]. …”
President Donald Trump should adopt a similarly aggressive approach to China’s fishing super-fleets, which are an illegal and disgraceful international menace. He should treat Chinese overfishing in the Western Hemisphere as a threat to U.S. security and interests, much as he treats the drug trade. The time for decisive action is long overdue.
Last September, hundreds of dead dolphins washed up on the Somali coast after being struck by the high-intensity sonar used by a Chinese fishing fleet. The sonar appears to have concussed the animals to death. There was no accountability, no apology, and no deterrent against future abuses. These plundering fleets operate globally, causing irreparable harm in sensitive habitats from the Galapagos Islands to West Africa, East Africa, and Asia. They deactivate their transponders to avoid detection. When confronted, they deny everything. But China cannot hide the truth. Its fleets operating off of Argentina are so vast that they can be seen from space.
This deprives impoverished fishermen of the means to support their families and sustain local economies. It depletes fish stocks in a rapacious effort to maximize short-term profits. Trump should take action and demolish this unacceptable status quo.
The president can impose sanctions on illegal fishermen but that would not be sufficient to meet the crisis. New World Trade Organization rules require China to reduce subsidies to fleets, but this will not be enough to stop the plunder. Beijing is likely to ignore its obligations.
Trump should build on his administration’s recognition of these fishing fleets as part of China’s People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia. He should designate the networks behind them as transnational criminal organizations. Working with Latin American governments, he could issue an executive order declaring illegal overfishing in the Western Hemisphere a national security threat. The U.S. Coast Guard, with regional partners, could increase patrols, interdict offending vessels, seize catches and equipment, detain crews where justified, and impose real costs on repeat offenders.
Such action would be difficult and politically fraught but would send a clear message that China’s outlaw conduct will no longer be tolerated.
Predatory Chinese fishing is viewed with revulsion around the world, and tougher American action would likely attract international support. China will be reluctant to draw even more attention to its overfishing by resisting an anti-poaching campaign. Beijing knows its conduct is despised and has persisted only because it has paid little price for doing so. The gains from overfishing outweigh the diplomatic costs. Resolute American action, combined with growing international pressure, could change that calculus.
The U.S. Navy should be prepared to deter and counter any Chinese effort to escalate against the Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, in response to tougher enforcement. China is increasingly aggressive in pressing its baseless claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, including productive fishing grounds within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
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China’s intolerable conduct cannot continue unchecked. It is draining the oceans of life, disrupting local economies, impoverishing the already poor, and threatening the future of countless marine species.
Trump must lead an international effort to stop it.