DiCaprio: "Chinese Fishing Boats Are Sweeping Marine Resources"... Chinese Media Reacts Angrily, "Refrain from Such Remarks"

DiCaprio Shares Article on Chinese Fisheries via Twitter
Chinese Media Points to Developed Countries Like the US and Europe as Causes of Marine Ecosystem Destruction

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who shows great interest in environmental activism, criticized the overexploitation of marine resources by Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, prompting Chinese media to react angrily and issue a statement. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio criticized the overexploitation of marine resources by Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, prompting Chinese state media to warn him to "refrain from reckless remarks."

DiCaprio is well-known for his strong interest in environmental activism. On the 29th of last month, he shared a New York Times (NYT) article on his Twitter, which reported that Chinese fisheries, having depleted seafood stocks domestically, are repeating the same practices in distant waters such as South America.

DiCaprio added, "Such actions not only impact local economies but also raise alarms about the sustainability of marine life." China reacted strongly to this Twitter post.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a statement through the Farmers' Daily, saying, "We acknowledge his concern for environmental protection. However, he must respect the facts and refrain from reckless remarks or statements with hidden agendas."

They continued, "Who is destroying the marine ecosystem on Earth? Is it Chinese fisheries or the consumption by developed countries?" attributing the cause of marine ecosystem destruction to developed countries in North America and Europe. They also claimed that China relies heavily on aquaculture for seafood demand, and that the distant-water deep-sea fishing production criticized in the NYT article accounts for only a portion of the total catch.

In response, the British daily The Times reported on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' remarks, stating that China's deep-sea fishing catch amounts to approximately 2.24 million tons annually, while aquaculture production reaches 22 million tons.

The Communist Party's official newspaper Global Times also criticized the NYT, accusing it of "biased reporting that undermines China's credibility and seeks to advance the geopolitical agenda of the U.S. government."

Meanwhile, according to the NYT, China accounts for 99% of the fishing activities near the Galapagos Islands. China is being criticized for organizing corporate-style deep-sea fishing fleets that are depleting fishery resources along the coasts of South America, the South Pacific, and Africa.

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