The Chinese policy and governance context for global fisheries

With the massive expansion of the Chinese economy over the last thirty years, China's role in global fisheries production, trade and consumption has become increasingly prominent, and a progressively conspicuous focus of attention among academics and policymakers. This rapid growth in the fisheries sector has also come with significant environmental challenges. The paper first describes trends in environmental governance generally in China, then examines recent developments in fisheries governance, then discusses the role of civil society and market actors. The essay outlines 1) particularly important developments in policy and governance in China that affect global fisheries; 2) their environmental implications; and 3) the social, economic and political processes that influence these policy and governance developments. Noteworthy trends include: the increasing expansion of the aquaculture and distant water fishing sectors; state policy that increasingly emphasises sustainability; the introduction of environmental certification regimes; and attention to Chinese seafood consumption. However, significant challenges remain in relation to enforcement of state policies, and limitations of NGO and private sector activities.