Greenpeace says that the disgraced China Tuna Industry Group (CTIG) did not turn up at the eleventh Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting this week.
The company got a rap on the knuckles back in September by China’s Ministry of Agriculture for telling potential investors that international fishing rules for tuna could be flouted because apparently non-compliance penalties are never upheld. At which time its initial public offer stalled on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The group was told to attend the next WCPFC meeting to learn more about international regulation, but unfortunately the issue had already spurred concern over the global expansion of China’s offshore fishing industry.
GPEA ocean campaigner, Wang Haibo, said: “China Tuna Industry Group haven’t fronted and their decision is likely to reignite anger at the troublesome company.”
He added: “Their attitude to international fisheries agreements shocked many, from the WCPFC, to Chinese authorities, the HKEx, NGOs, and even other Chinese offshore fishing companies.”
Adding fuel to the fire is that overseas registered companies are not allowed to operate Chinese distant water fishing vessels. “But with Cayman Island registration and its attempt to list in Hong Kong, CTIG is trying to have it all,” said Mr Wang.
Greenpeace said that the review of China’s fisheries legislation in 2015 is an opportunity for China to bring its distant water fishing industry under control. If it doesn’t, companies like CTIG will continue to operate on the basis that China won’t enforce their fisheries obligations and the Chinese government will continue to be embarrassed by its international fishing fleets.
