Distant-water fishing as maritime pressure

How does China's fishing fleet operate today?

It operates at enormous scale in distant waters, creating visible pressure on fisheries around other countries' maritime zones.

Concentrations of fishing lights beyond coastlines and around exclusive economic zones, including off South America, reveal the scale of China's distant-water fleet. The concern extends beyond vessel numbers to the pressure they put on fish stocks outside China's own waters. Depleted fisheries can weaken food security, employment, tax revenue, and the shipyards that sustain local fishing communities.