GS Paper II & III

News Excerpt

For the first time in 59 years, India has been appointed as the first Vice-chair of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management.

More details on the news:

• India’s appointment as the first Vice-Chair comes at a time when numerous countries are calling out China’s illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices in international waters, often violating Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other states.

Growing dominance of Chinese fishing vessels:

• Widespread incursion into foreign EEZs: Between 2019 and 2021, China fished in EEZs of over 80 other countries for more than 3 million hours and spent nearly 10 million hours outside its own EEZ in the high-seas and the EEZs of other nations.
• European concerns on IUU fishing practices: In October 2023, the European Parliament released a report highlighting China’s distant-water fishing fleet, largest globally, and its Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. China is the leading country in the IUU rankings.
• China's overwhelming role in global fisheries: Over 60% of Beijing’s vessels are involved in IUU fishing worldwide. China also consumes around 36% of total global fish production and catches 15.2 million tonnes of marine life annually, a massive 20 percent of the world’s annual catch, based on UN data.
• Top Ranking in Global Capture Production: China ranked top of the top ten global capture producers in 2020 from marine sources, according to the FAO. But there have also been growing instances of its involvement in friction in the high seas.
• Rising tensions: In December 2023, the Philippines accused Beijing of attacking its fishing vessels near the Scarborough Shoal, with water guns, in the South China Sea. The two countries have been locked in a tense standoff over the past year, over Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea as well as the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Need for global fisheries management:

• Ecosystem restoration through enhanced management: The fisheries management will help in   improving global fisheries management and remains crucial to restore ecosystems to a healthy and productive state.
• Safeguarding long-Term aquatic food supply: It requires protecting the long-term supply of aquatic foods.
• Combating illegal fishing: The improvement includes eliminating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
• Mitigating biodiversity degradation impacts: There is a need to address the impacts of the climate crisis, and biodiversity degradation that are also heavily impacting aquatic and coastal ecosystems and dependent communities.

Significance of India as Vice Chair:

• Diplomatic milestone: India's appointment as the first vice-chair of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management is a diplomatic milestone, showcasing global recognition of India's leadership in addressing crucial fisheries issues.
• Expertise in fisheries management: As one of the top fishing nations with over 28 million inland and marine fisheries, India brings substantial expertise to the committee. Its experience positions India as a key contributor to shaping international policies on fisheries management.
• Balancing global narratives: India's role is particularly crucial amid rising concerns over China's illegal fishing practices. As a vice-chair, India can provide a much-needed balanced perspective to global narratives concerning fisheries governance, especially for artisanal and small-scale fisheries.
• Contributing to sustainable practices: With a focus on environmental, economic, and social sustainability, India's inclusion emphasizes the nation's commitment to improving global fisheries management. India can play a pivotal role in promoting collective solutions for the long-term supply of aquatic foods and ecosystem restoration.

Conclusion:

Thus, India's appointment as the vice-chair of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management marks a positive stride towards global cooperation in addressing fisheries challenges and ensuring sustainability for the benefit of all nations.