Far from China’s shores, an expansive armada of distant-water fishing vessels is causing alarm across the globe. The vast fleet, numbering between 450 and 500 ships off Argentina’s Atlantic coast alone, has raised international concern for systematically violating maritime norms, devastating marine ecosystems, and destabilising local economies.
Off Argentina’s coastline, the fleet positions itself just beyond the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), primarily targeting squid during peak fishing season from December to March. These vessels illuminate the night sea with intense artificial lights to attract squid, depleting stocks critical to both marine biodiversity and Argentina’s coastal communities. To evade enforcement efforts, ships routinely switch off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), slipping unnoticed into the darkness—a hallmark of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The crisis extends far beyond South America. In the Indian Ocean, China’s distant-water fishing fleet has been similarly implicated in large-scale IUU activities. According to a damning 2024 report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Chinese vessels are involved in severe human rights abuses, including forced labour and crew mistreatment. These ships primarily target valuable tuna and sharks, undermining local fisheries, devastating marine biodiversity, and threatening the livelihoods of vulnerable coastal populations.
Beijing’s ambitions appear to surpass economic gain alone. Strategic interests underpin the fleet’s expansion, with many vessels functioning as de facto extensions of the People’s Liberation Army Navy-affiliated maritime militia. Disguised as civilian fishing boats, they engage in surveillance, intelligence collection, and logistical support, bolstered by generous state subsidies estimated at $2.4 billion annually. This financial backing enables ships to operate continuously and evade international regulatory frameworks.
Nations affected by this maritime predation are increasingly fighting back. Argentina, despite economic dependencies on China, has launched Operation Griffon XVII, partnering with the United States Coast Guard to strengthen maritime surveillance. India, similarly wary of China’s maritime ambitions, has intensified patrols and encouraged regional collaboration. Multilateral bodies, including the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), are pushing for more robust measures, although meaningful enforcement remains elusive.
Yet Beijing remains defiant, maintaining subsidies and minimal oversight despite mounting global criticism. This persistent neglect of international
Aritra Banerjee is a defence & security columnist.