New Chinese “Super Trawlers” Threaten to Devastate Liberia’s Fishing Grounds Warns Conservation Group

Two fishermen sit on a boat as a colleague weaves a fishing net on the beach of the West Point neighbourhood in Monrovia on June 15, 2016. Zoom DOSSO / AFP

The presence of six newly-built Chinese “super trawlers” in Liberia is prompting widespread outrage and worry that these massive vessels will decimate local fish stocks, according to a new report by the London-based Environmental Justice Foundation.

The Chinese ships arrived last month at the port of Monrovia after starting the fishing season in Mozambique. Their presence is just the latest addition to a growing number of Chinese fishing vessels in West Africa, they largely operating beyond the control of local governments.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms
6 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator

You Might Like

Three New Chinese Trawlers Are on Their Way to Africa as Part of a Global Expansion of China’s Distant Fishing Fleet

China’s notorious distant fishing fleet appears to be undertaking a major global expansion, particularly into Africa’s already over-fished waters. The issue is sparking disputes between China and countries in Asia, Africa, and the ...

Chinese Galamsey and the Illegal Lure of China’s Gold Rush

Some 50,000 Chinese migrants are said to have flocked to Ghana to stake a claim in the country’s illegal gold mining rush, with dire environmental, economic and social consequences. Ghana’s tradition of ...

Ghana Renews Fishing Permit for Chinese Trawler That Has Refused to Pay a $1 Million Fine

Ghanaian fishing authorities have reportedly renewed the permit for the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 956, a Chinese vessel operated by Rongcheng Ocean Fishery Co. Ltd., even though the company has so far refused to ...

Illegal Fishing, Human Rights Abuses Rampant Aboard China’s Distant Fishing Trawlers in SE Asia and Africa, Says NGO

There are new allegations of widespread environmental abuses and human rights violations committed by crews aboard China’s distant water fishing fleet operating in Southeast Asia and West Africa in particular. A new report ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP