China’s Shadow Fleet: The Global Crisis Of Illegal Fishing From Argentina To India – Analysis

China’s distant-water fishing fleet—numbering at least 2,500 vessels—harvests roughly four million tons of fish annually. Yet, their reach and methods have provoked widespread condemnation for violating international maritime norms, devastating fish populations, and triggering human rights abuses.

In the Indian Ocean, the scale of these offences is starkly visible. A 2024 report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) detailed 86 separate cases linking Chinese vessels to IUU fishing and severe human rights abuses. Almost half of China’s authorized tuna longliners in the Southwest Indian Ocean region are involved in such violations. These vessels target economically valuable species like tuna and sharks, devastating local fisheries and threatening biodiversity.

Evidence suggests that these operations are not merely commercial but strategic. The Chinese government heavily subsidises its fleet, providing funding for fuel, equipment, and even vessel construction—covering up to half the total cost.

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