A new fisheries intelligence report has revealed that some Chinese vessels are exhibiting behaviour associated with spoofing and illegal fishing activities.
The Joint Analytical Cell (JAC) collaborative analysis examines a fleet of Chinese-linked distant-water squid fishing vessels displaying behaviour that indicates efforts to hide fishing activity, including possible illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activity.
“This work demonstrates the value of the Joint Analytical Cell and the importance of cooperation and collaboration to identify and understand the challenges facing our world’s ocean,” said Mark Young, executive director of the IMCS Network.
”The analysis provides useful recommendations that may strengthen national and regional efforts to combat IUU fishing. We welcome the engagement of China and hope this provides a basis for future exchanges and ongoing cooperation,” said Mark Young, executive director of the IMCS Network.
Fake identities
Specific cases were identified by the JAC where this behavior appears to be facilitating the sharing of authorised vessel identities between vessels, manipulating vessel identities and locations. This behaviour has also been linked to the operations of a group of IUU listed vessels.
In this newly published Fisheries Intelligence Report, the JAC provides a comprehensive analysis of a fleet of vessels reporting on Maritime Mobile Service Identities in the 150 series.
The vessels identified by the JAC engaged in regular name changes over the Automatic Identification System, sharing of names and Maritime Mobile Service Identities between vessels and other spoofing behaviour from individual vessels.
This behaviour alone does not constitute IUU activity, however, it makes it difficult for relevant authorities to monitor individual vessels, confirm their identities and associate with a flag State. This is a matter of concern for regional fisheries management organisations, coastal states and port states that the vessels interact with in the course of their operations.
The JAC shared a copy of the draft report with the China Overseas Fisheries Association, which has confirmed that on at least one occasion, a vessel reporting on a 150 series Maritime Mobile Service Identity in the Atlantic / Pacific squid grounds was using the identity of an authorised Chinese fishing vessel that according to the information available to Chinese authorities, was operating in the Indian Ocean. An investigation is underway.
The report concludes with a recommendation that any distant water squid vessel that is currently or has historically transmitted over a Maritime Mobile Service Identity in the 150 series should be considered high risk of engaging in IUU fishing activities. The JAC further recommends appropriate inspection or investigation action be prioritised for these vessels and that authorities focus on confirming the identity of the vessel.
