June 25, 2024

Chinese threat to detain fishing crews in West Philippine Sea unlikely to impact fish production

The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has stated that the Chinese threat to detain fishing boat crews in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS) is not expected to significantly impact fish production, according to BFAR spokesman Nazario C Briguera, BusinessWorld reported.

The Chinese government has recently authorised its coast guard to detain, without trial, any boat crew members found in the contested waters for up to 60 days.

Briguera said the Philippines does not recognise this unilateral declaration of China, and the Philippines will continue to fish in the West Philippine Sea because it is part of their waters, as an exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippines has consistently protested the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within its EEZ.

Briguera noted that BFAR has not yet received reports of any Philippine boat crews being detained by China. He said if there are fishermen arrested, it is a new provocation on the part of China and can be considered a new violation of international law, particularly of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China's coast guard has repeatedly used water cannons to prevent Philippine vessels from entering contested areas within the EEZ, including Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, fish caught in the WPS amounted to 201,894.49 metric tonnes last year, reflecting a 14.85% increase from 2022.

-      BusinessWorld