Circular of the Ministry of Agriculture adjusting the Marine fishing moratorium system

Circular of the Ministry of Agriculture adjusting the Marine fishing moratorium system

In order to further strengthen the protection of Marine fishery resources and promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Fisheries Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Regulations on the Administration of Fishery Fishing Permits, the Opinions of The State Council on Promoting the Sustainable and Healthy Development of Marine Fisheries and the Guiding Opinions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Strengthening the Conservation of Aquatic Living Resources, In line with the principles of “overall stability, partial unity, reduction of contradictions and ease of management”, the government decided to adjust and improve the Marine fishing moratorium in the summer season. The revised Marine summer fishing moratorium is hereby announced as follows.

1. Fishing closed waters
Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea (including Beibu Gulf) north of latitude 12 degrees north.
Ii. Types of fishing bans
All types of work except tackle and fishing support boats for fishing vessels.
Three, fishing time
(1) from 12:00 PM May 1 to 12:00 PM September 1 in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea north of 35 degrees north latitude.
(2) The Yellow Sea and the East China Sea between 35 degrees north latitude and 26 degrees 30 ‘north latitude are from 12:00 p.m. on May 1 to 12:00 p.m. on September 16.
(3) from 12 o ‘clock on May 1 to 12 o ‘clock on August 16 in the East China Sea and the South China Sea from 26 degrees 30 ‘north to 12 degrees North latitude.
(4) Fishing vessels operating in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea between latitude 35 degrees north and latitude 26 degrees 30 minutes north, such as yard-trawler, cage pot, gillnet and night fishing lights, may apply for special fishing licenses for shrimp, crab, pelagic fish and other resources, which shall be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for approval by the competent fishery authorities of the relevant provinces.
(5) A special fishing license system may be implemented for special economic species. The specific species, operation time, operation type and operation area shall be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for approval by the competent fisheries departments of coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government before execution.

(6) Small fishing trawlers shall be banned from fishing at 12:00 on May 1 for a period of no less than three months. The time for the end of the fishing ban shall be determined by the competent fisheries departments of coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for the record.
(7) Supplementary fishing vessels shall, in principle, implement the provisions of the maximum fishing moratorium in the sea areas where they are located, and if it is really necessary to provide supporting services to fishing vessels that operate in ways that cause little damage to resources before the end of the maximum fishing moratorium, the competent fisheries departments of coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities shall formulate supporting management plans and submit them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for approval before implementation.
(8) Fishing vessels with fishing gear shall strictly implement the system of reporting the entry and exit of fishing vessels from the port, strictly prohibit fishing in violation of the provisions of the fishing license on the type of operation, place, time limit and number of fishing lights, implement the system of fixed point landing of catches, and establish a supervision and inspection mechanism for landed catches.
(9) Fishing vessels prohibited for fishing shall, in principle, return to the port of their place of registration for fishing. If it is really impossible for them to do so due to special circumstances, they shall be confirmed by the competent department of fisheries at the provincial level where the port of registration is located, and make unified arrangements to dock at the port of registration near the wharf within the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. If it is indeed impossible to accommodate fishing vessels prohibited for fishing due to the limited capacity of the fishing port in this province, the fishery administrative department of that province shall negotiate with the relevant provincial fishery administrative department to make arrangements.
(10) In accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Fishery Fishing Permits, fishing vessels are prohibited from operating across maritime boundaries.
(11) The competent fishery departments of coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government may, in the light of their local conditions, formulate more stringent measures for resource protection on the basis of State regulations.
Iv. Implementation time
The above adjusted provisions on the moratorium in the summer season will come into effect on April 15, 2023, and Circular of the Ministry of Agriculture on Adjusting the Moratorium System in the Marine Summer Season (Circular No. 2021 of the Ministry of Agriculture) shall be repealed accordingly.
Ministry of Agriculture
March 27, 2023

The above is a notice from China’s fisheries Department to stop fishing in 2023. We would like to remind fishing vessels that are fishing at night to observe the stop time specified in this notice. During this period, maritime officers will step up night patrols. The number and total power of metal halide underwater lamp shall not be changed without authorization. The number of Squid fishing boat surface lamp on board shall not be increased at will. To provide a good environment for the growth of Marine fish larvae.