Fishing industry flounders on dwindling resources

JINAN - A severe decline in fishery resources has nearly paralyzed the fishing industry in east China, leaving many boats anchored at the harbor during this year's prime fishing season.

Dwindling stocks due to years of overfishing and lower sea water temperatures have brought about hard times for fishermen, who have reported the worst harvest ever this year around the Bohai Sea.

In ports across Shandong province, a major seafood production base in eastern China, a large expanse of fishing boats are anchored in May, a traditionally busy season for fishermen.

Production has been halted for the majority of fishing vessels with engines more powerful than 220 kilowatts, as well as about 70 to 80 percent of smaller vessels, according to a report from the Shandong Marine Fishing and Production Management Station.

Li Xiaowei, a local fisherman in Yantai, is among the few who have persisted in fishing, but he admits that his trips have mostly ended in disappointment.

"There are only a few mantis shrimp in one net, some nets are even empty," Yu says.

Quiet sea

Oceanologists say the recent low output at sea is the result of excessive fishing, over-exploitation and pollution -- factors that have damaged fishery resources over the years.

"China has seen a serious deterioration in offshore fishery resources, and the stocks of many kinds of fish have dropped below harvestable levels," says Zhang Yu, an official from Yantai's ocean and fishery bureau.

Meanwhile, the fishery industry is also being hit by rising diesel costs, as the price of diesel has climbed from 6,400 yuan ($1,016) per ton in 2010 to 8,700 yuan this year.

Yu Shuiqiang, who operates two fishing vessels in Weihai, says surging fuel costs can not be offset by meager hauls.

"Labor at sea only brings more losses, and staying idle at home at least saves us the cost of diesel," Yu says.

Weathering the storm

The fishery standstill has impacted on the local economy, which boasts a large presence of businesses engaged in seafood processing, storage and shipping. Many factories have been forced to close due to scarce orders.

Consumers have also felt the pinch of this year's poor harvest, as most seafood products saw a 50-percent price hike in Shandong, which supplies seafood to many parts of the country.

China's maritime authorities understand the gravity of the situation, and the country has implemented stricter fishing bans and established more marine conservation areas with hopes of reviving the fishery industry in the Bohai Sea.

But experts say the critical task for the moment is to resettle out-of-work fishermen before the marine ecosystem recovers.

"The government should encourage fishermen to 'go ashore' by compensating them for their obsolete vessels and rewarding those who switch to mariculture work," says Yuan Yuqian, an official with Rongcheng Port.