"Squid Sweep at the Birthplace of Evolution Theory"... Large-Scale Chinese Fishing Vessels Appear Again at This Location

Chinese Fishing Vessels Conduct Large-Scale 'Fishing Operations' in the Galapagos Islands
"Threat to Ecosystem... Massive Impact on Marine Fisheries"

Recently, a large Chinese fishing fleet has been indiscriminately harvesting squid in the waters around the Galapagos Islands, threatening the nearby ecosystem. The photo shows a coral planting project for ecosystem restoration being carried out in the Galapagos Islands on March 21 (local time). [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Recently, China's fishing fleet has been conducting indiscriminate fishing operations in the waters of the Galapagos Islands, one of the ecologically important habitats in the world, sparking controversy. Some raise concerns that their large-scale operations could threaten the ecosystem.

The Galapagos Islands, located about 1,000 km west of Ecuador, consist of 19 islands and numerous reefs. They are home to a unique marine ecosystem with diverse species such as the 200 kg giant tortoise, the 1.5 m long marine iguana, and the Galapagos penguin. The Galapagos Islands are also famous as the place that influenced Charles Darwin in formulating his theory of evolution.

However, recently hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels have gathered here, conducting fishing operations that threaten the ecosystem. According to the UK’s The Times, these vessels fish 24 hours a day, seven days a week, receiving fuel and other supplies at sea.

The main species they catch is the Humboldt squid, which mainly inhabits the eastern Pacific, including the Galapagos Islands. They use bright lights visible even from space to lure and sweep up the squid.

Environmental activists have expressed concerns that such large-scale squid fishing could endanger the ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands. They point out that it could threaten turtles, whales, and other species that rely on squid as a primary food source in the area.

Mala Valentine of Oceana, an environmental NGO, stated that large-scale commercial fishing by the Chinese fleet is being conducted extensively and warned, "There is a growing possibility that this will have a huge impact on global marine fisheries." She also cautioned, "Fish that form the food chain for species inhabiting this area may never reach the Galapagos Islands and could all disappear after being caught by fishing vessels in nearby waters."

On the afternoon of the 29th of last month, a Chinese fishing vessel engaged in illegal fishing was seized by the Coast Guard off the coast of Socheongdo, Ongjin-gun, Incheon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the number of Chinese fishing vessels operating in South American waters is rapidly increasing. According to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), the number of Chinese vessels fishing in the South Pacific rose from 54 in 2009 to 557 in 2020, increasing more than tenfold in just over a decade. Their catch volume also surged from 70,000 tons to 358,000 tons during the same period.

In particular, the large-scale fishing operations by Chinese vessels are consistently raised as an issue because they infringe on the sovereignty and interests of other countries. South American countries spanning the South Pacific and South Atlantic have expressed strong concerns and opposition. In July 2020, when about 260 large Chinese fishing vessels were detected near the Galapagos, the Ecuadorian government expressed strong concerns and sought diplomatic responses with neighboring countries.

Issues related to illegal fishing, such as unauthorized incursions into territorial waters, continue to be raised. According to the Manila Times, cases of Chinese vessels violating the territorial waters or Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of South American countries increased sharply from 350 in 2020 to 584 last year. This year, the number of violations is already reported to have surpassed the total from last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.