Professor of geopolitics and fishing institutions denounce that fishing vessels coming from China have been invading the maritime territory of South America for years
All coastal countries have the right to exploit their Exclusive Economic Zones. These are the maritime range of up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) beyond the territorial waters of each country. On these zones, each nation has priority to take advantage of the natural resources of the sea, both living and non-living, being responsible for its environmental management. However, over time, there are several reports that Chinese fishing vessels would have invaded these areas around the world, and from time to time, the threat to South American territory increases.
In a video published on his YouTude channel, professor of Geopolitics Heni Ozi Cukier states that the biodiversity of marine life in South America, especially fish, would be severely threatened by invading Chinese ships. Cukier, who is also known as Professor HOC, recalled the episode that took place in 2020 when more than 300 ships from China crossed the Strait of Magellan, in the extreme south of Chile, and arrived in the South Atlantic.
“When these fishing vessels come closer to shore, they are, in effect, invading an exclusive zone of a country. This illegal fishing in South American waters represents a challenge for maintaining the sovereignty of the coastal countries of the Southern Cone (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay)”, said HOC. Still according to the scholar, Chinese fleets represent 70% of the countries that practice illegal fishing in the world.
China leads the world ranking of fish producing countries, accounting for 15% of the average total production. The Chinese fish 15,2 million tons a year. No other country or continent comes close to these numbers. Indonesia (6,11 million), United States (4,9 million), Russia (4,47 million), Peru (3,77 million), India (3,60 million), and Japan (3,17 million) come right away.
Union says illegal fishing promoted by Chinese has become routine
According to the Union of Port Operators of the State of São Paulo (Sopesp), fishing vessels from China seek out less supervised coastlines. This was the case on the African continent, but the situation became widely known and the Chinese began to suffer pressure.
Still according to Sopesp, in an article posted on your website, China has changed its fate in recent years. Then, illegal predatory fishing fleets began to be seen more frequently in the Atlantic and South Pacific.
The Union recalls the episode that took place in 2019 in which about 7 tons of fish from illegal fishing were seized in a joint operation between the Brazil's navy and France between the mouth of the Oiapoque River (Amapá) and the territorial waters of French Guiana. “It is known that most of the boats are Chinese, a country that invests heavily in countries in the region. That is, with one hand they are allies, with the other…”, says the agency.
Fishing in international waters is not illegal, but neither is it regulated. What worries Brazil is that, given the context, there is a tendency for the Chinese to get closer and closer to the Brazilian coast and negatively interfere with marine nature. Brazil and China are trading partners.
Cases of conflict involving Chinese and South American vessels throughout history
In 2018, a tuna vessel from Rio Grande do Norte (RN), with only 10 crew members and 22 meters in length, was attacked by a Chinese vessel twice the size. The attack took place 420 miles from the Brazilian coast (676 kilometers), with no injuries.
In Argentina, in 2016, the local coast guard opened fire until it caused the sinking of a fishing boat coming from China and which was inside Argentine maritime territory. The intention of the Chinese was to capture squid.
In November 2020, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Colombia issued a joint statement on the Chinese fishing fleet that was operating in the Pacific, especially off the Chilean coast.
controversial proposals
Some huge Chinese fleets spend years in the international sea, being resupplied by tankers, and transfer the cargo to factory ships to continue fishing. In 2013, China submitted a project to the government of Uruguay to build a fishing terminal as a repair base and resource supply for all ships from China and Taiwan. However, environmentalists and neighboring countries reacted against it.
There is also talk that the Chinese would be interested in building a maritime hub in the city of Rio Grande (RS). The Integrated Fishing Project was estimated at US$ 30 million for the construction of 400 marine trawlers, a freezing plant with a capacity of 500 tons per day, in addition to a port of up to 100 hectares.
