Empty Seas

There have been serious concerns about unregulated Chinese fishing off West Africa for years, discussed here for example:
Fishy Business: Report Details Chinese Fleet’s Illegal Operations in West Africa
I don't know enough about the species involved to say for sure but it seems possible that the huge damage to marine life there could affect areas as far away as Gibraltar or even Biscay. So it's very relevant to discuss this in a thread about sailing those waters.
 
Just a continuation of imperialism by aquatic means; poor nations have limited or no ability to police their EEZ and unscrupulous fishing companies exploit this. Hell, the UK is bad at policing fishing, imagine what it's like for developing states where the coastguard has no budget for fuel or govt ministers in receipt of bribes?
 
MisterBaxter said:
There have been serious concerns about unregulated Chinese fishing off West Africa for years, discussed here for example:
Fishy Business: Report Details Chinese Fleet’s Illegal Operations in West Africa
I don't know enough about the species involved to say for sure but it seems possible that the huge damage to marine life there could affect areas as far away as Gibraltar or even Biscay. So it's very relevant to discuss this in a thread about sailing those waters.
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Seems to me the main thrust of that article is worried about foreign ownership of fishing fleets, it even says China are investing in the local infrastructure. Literally the same story as UK fishing, just less officially endorsed. Our government sell off to the highest bidder, and we own very little of our own fishing 🤷‍♀️ In "more developed" countries we call that open market
 
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What a pity this thread descended into the fashionable modern narrative of censorship by our neighbours. It all smacks of the very worst type of bigotry to me, and that is the new inclusive liberal bigotry.

Why on earth would anyone be reported to the mods and accused of xenophobia and the all-important buzz-word 'racism' because their views reflect what is generally known to be true around the globe? We are all guilty of clearing the seas out, nobody is innocent, but China drives that market probably more than any other. To point out fact doesn't equate to xenophobia.

Even by conservative estimates, we kill over 80 millions sharks every year. The majority of those left to drown after being finned. Most fishing nations are involved in finning, but who drives the demand? Manta rays are now on the WWF radar because it's been decided their gills contain magical properties which should be used in traditional medicine. Whose traditional medicine? That means inevitably that, given time, Manta rays will find themselves on the critically endangered list.

To level the blanket charge of racism at somebody just devalues the whole debate. I don't know Bouba, but I've never read anything of his that could be construed as xenophobic. Sure, there are plenty of fishing fleets out their flying their national ensign, but that doesn't mean there's any correlation to where their catch goes. Just ask the fleets in the Sea of Cortez.

I'm far from being a tree-hugger, but I care deeply about marine life and the effect we're having on it. Stifling debate in such a way doesn't help anybody. And blowing the 'racism' whistle does your argument (which has plenty of merit) no justice.

Anyway, let's return to the topic in-hand and play nicely.....
 
Major_Clanger said:
because their views reflect what is generally known to be true around the globe?
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Ah that old chestnut, "we just know China is evil so it must be right". Precisely the issue, and still no real information posted. There is an enormous amount of anti-china propaganda these days, mostly from the US, aimed at destabilisation. Threads here regularly attack the Chinese for no reason at all. Here, a picture of a fishing boat, but at least once a week there's something about "Chinaspachers" saying how crap everything from China is despite actual Eberspachers orften being made in China.
If you want to just accept the BS then fair enough. I don't, I'd prefer we all live in peace and stop attacking one another. It would also be nice if those of Chinese descent felt safe on these forums without their nation being attacked.
 
lustyd said:
Ah that old chestnut, "we just know China is evil so it must be right". Precisely the issue, and still no real information posted. There is an enormous amount of anti-china propaganda these days, mostly from the US, aimed at destabilisation. Threads here regularly attack the Chinese for no reason at all. Here, a picture of a fishing boat, but at least once a week there's something about "Chinaspachers" saying how crap everything from China is despite actual Eberspachers orften being made in China.
If you want to just accept the BS then fair enough. I don't, I'd prefer we all live in peace and stop attacking one another. It would also be nice if those of Chinese descent felt safe on these forums without their nation being attacked.
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That’s just silly....there many people ‘of Chinese descent’ under threat from China.....
 
capnsensible said:
OK add Spain, Morocco and Ecuador, big fleets I've seen in action.

Anyway, the waters around the Canary Islands are well stocked with all sorts of marine life, I'm happy to report.

Question for those that visit, French, Portugese and Spanish marinas always were well stocked with grey mullet. Inedible to most tastes...mebbe not to Chinese :)......is this still so?
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Local gypsies of whatever nationalities seem to fish them out in bulk.
I believe they taste of diesel & p**.
 
lustyd said:
Ah that old chestnut, "we just know China is evil so it must be right". Precisely the issue, and still no real information posted. There is an enormous amount of anti-china propaganda these days, mostly from the US, aimed at destabilisation. Threads here regularly attack the Chinese for no reason at all. Here, a picture of a fishing boat, but at least once a week there's something about "Chinaspachers" saying how crap everything from China is despite actual Eberspachers orften being made in China.
If you want to just accept the BS then fair enough. I don't, I'd prefer we all live in peace and stop attacking one another. It would also be nice if those of Chinese descent felt safe on these forums without their nation being attacked.
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I genuinely mean no disrespect to you, but what on earth are you talking about??? Feeling 'safe' on a forum? Why wouldn't they feel 'safe'? Perhaps they might engage in robust but polite debate? Perhaps they might agree with general consensus? Perhaps they might chide you for going straight for the race card?

I agree with you with regards US propaganda, that's been slowly increasing since WWII ended and will probably end in conflict before too long, but it has precisely nothing to do with China's appetite for all things fishy. It's also a verboten topic.

I have a Chinaspacher on my boat, and very good it is too.
 
penfold said:
Just a continuation of imperialism by aquatic means; poor nations have limited or no ability to police their EEZ and unscrupulous fishing companies exploit this. Hell, the UK is bad at policing fishing, imagine what it's like for developing states where the coastguard has no budget for fuel or govt ministers in receipt of bribes?
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The UK is better than many other countries. I would call it stringent. The EU, however, is investigating the French fishing industry over longterm violations.
EU Commission opens an infringement procedure against France for not controlling its international fishing fleet - EU Fisheries Control Coalition
 
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