Biden is targeting China with memorandum to curb illicit fishing

(MENAFN) US President Joe Biden inked a national security memorandum to combat illicit fishing on Monday, as part of a vow to assist nations in combating alleged infractions by fishing fleets, particularly those of China.

In a statement, the White House said it will also form an alliance with Canada and the United Kingdom to "take urgent action" to increase monitoring, control, and surveillance in the battle against illicit, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

As part of increased involvement with the area to offset China's expanding influence, US officials have committed to implement regulations to better combat illicit fishing, notably in the Indo-Pacific.

Some nations in the region are irritated by China's massive fishing fleet, claiming that its vessels frequently breach their 200-nautical-mile (300-kilometer) exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and inflict environmental and economic harm.

Senior US administration officials told reporters in a briefing that the memorandum directs agencies to work towards “ending human trafficking, including forced labor … while promoting safe, sustainable use of the ocean”.

The Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, the US Coast Guard, and other enforcement agencies would involve with private and foreign associates to “investigate fishing vessels and operators expected to be harvesting seafood with forced labor,” the official claimed.

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