US sanctions China-based firms over illegal fishing abuses

The United States has sanctioned a number of companies and individuals for alleged human rights violations connected to what Washington deems to be illegal, deep-sea fishing operations based in China.

The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that the sanctions targeted Chinese nationals Li Zhenyu and Zhuo Xinrong, as well as ten entities, including Dalian Ocean Fishing Company and Pingtan Marine Enterprise, with ties to the pair.

The department also identified 157 Chinese-flagged vessels associated with the targeted entities, which it accused of "grave violations of human rights" and abusive labour conditions.

Treasury Department official Brian E Nelson said in a statement, "Treasury condemns the practises of those sanctioned today, which frequently involve the abuse of human rights, undermine fundamental labour and environmental standards, and harm the economic prospects of local populations in the Indo-Pacific."

China has been criticised for practises such as "distant water fishing," in which vessels fish in international waters or the waters of other nations beyond their 200-nautical-mile (300-kilometer) exclusive economic zone (EEV). The Chinese fishing fleet is the largest in the world.

On Friday, the US Treasury Department accused Dalian Ocean Fishing Company of spending thirteen months at sea, during which time five workers died and three bodies were dumped into the water. According to the report, the company's crews work an average of 18 hours per day while consuming expired food and contaminated water.

The United States also accused Dalian Ocean Fishing Company and Pingtan Marine Enterprise of illegally finning sharks.

Climate change threatens to devastate marine life around the world, prompting efforts to crack down on illegal fishing. According to the latest Red List of Threatened Species, published on Friday, nearly 10 percent of marine life is in danger of extinction.

China has asserted that it is a responsible member of the international fishing community, that its fleet fishes within its EEZ, and that it has taken measures to combat illegal fishing.

The country's embassy in Washington condemned the United States on Friday for "pointing fingers at other nations and imposing unilateral sanctions under the guise of human rights."

"The United States is not in a position to impose unjustified sanctions on other nations or act as the world's policeman," embassy spokesman Liu Pengyiu stated.

In June, however, with an eye on China, US President Joe Biden signed a national security memorandum to combat alleged violations by fishing fleets.

A US official stated in the same month that China had a duty to "actively monitor and correct... fishing fleet activities in other countries' waters."

Nelson of the Treasury Department said of the new sanctions, "These designations demonstrate how seriously we take the problem of illegal fishing and our commitment to holding the perpetrators of serious human rights abuses accountable."

The measures prohibit U.S. companies from conducting business with the targeted individuals and entities and freeze any assets and interests they may have in the country.

This action against Pingtan is the first time the United States has sanctioned a NASDAQ-listed company.

Source:- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/9/us-sanctions-china-based-firms-over-illegal-fishing-abuses