**United States-People=s Republic of China Bilateral Fisheries
Consultations**

**[Basic Instrument]{.underline}**

There is no formal instrument.

**[Implementing Legislation]{.underline}**

None.

**[Member Nations]{.underline}**

The United States and the People=s Republic of China (China).

**[Meetings]{.underline}**

The countries meet periodically in the United States or China. The venue
is decided prior to each meeting.

**[U.S. Representation]{.underline}**

Delegations consist of one representative from each Government, as well
as support staff and advisors. The current U.S. Representative is
Ambassador David Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans
and Space, Department of State.

**[Description]{.underline}**

From 1995 to 2004, the United States and China maintained a bilateral
fisheries relationship under terms of a Governing International
Fisheries Agreement (GIFA). Although the GIFA expired in July 2004, they
have continued to collaborate on fisheries and other marine science
programs through a bilateral science and technology agreement, and on
high seas driftnet fisheries enforcement via a *Memorandum of
Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and
the Government of the People\'s Republic of China on Effective
Cooperation and Implementation of United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 46/215 of December 20, 1991,* known more generally as the
U.S.-PRC Shiprider Agreement.

**[Recent Activities]{.underline}**

Representatives of the U.S. and Chinese Governments last met in Beijing
on May 8‑10, 2002, to discuss fisheries issues of mutual concern. The
U.S. delegation was led by Ambassador Mary Beth West, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, U.S. Department of State.
Representatives from NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard were
included on the delegation. The Chinese delegation was headed by Li
Jianhua, Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Fisheries (BOF),
Ministry of Agriculture, led the Chinese delegation. In opening
comments, both sides noted the importance of continuing already
productive bilateral cooperation on fisheries.

[Reducing Capacity, Improving Enforcement]{.underline}: Li emphasized
China\'s desire to operate responsible, sustainable fisheries according
to international standards. As a result, China has been working to
reduce fishing capacity by cutting the numbers of fishing vessels, and
to retrain fishermen for other jobs. China has also implemented marine
and freshwater fishing moratoria to protect fish stocks.

[United Nations (UN) Fish Stocks and Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) Compliance Agreements]{.underline}: Li said China had begun to
implement the UN Fish Stocks Agreement but had not ratified it because
of concerns over high seas boarding. When these concerns have been
addressed to China=s satisfaction, China will be ready to ratify. China
will also be ready to ratify the UN FAO=s High Seas Fishing Vessel
Compliance Agreement. The obstacles to ratification are permitting and
control systems in China. When those systems are in place, the Chinese
Government will begin the ratification process.

[FAO International Plans of Action (IPOAs)]{.underline}: Regarding FAO
IPOAs on fisheries, Li noted China\'s preference for working with
regional fisheries organizations on such issues as capacity, shark
finning, seabird by‑catch, and illegal, unregulated, and unreported
(IUU) fishing. He also called attention to China\'s lack of ability to
implement these plans to developed country standards. The U.S.
delegation noted China\'s comments but said the scale of these problems
exceeded the capability of regional organizations. The U.S. delegation
noted that APEC fora may provide a vehicle for technology sharing and
policy development.

[International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna
(ICCAT)]{.underline}: Both sides supported the effective functioning of
ICCAT and committed to mutual cooperation under the ICCAT framework. The
U.S. delegation noted its concerns over some ICCAT issues, including
stock management, compliance, and non‑member fishing, and asked for
Chinese support for U.S. initiatives to address those concerns. Li said
China would work within the ICCAT framework but is seeking to expand its
bigeye tuna quota through an innovative arrangement with the Japanese.

[Multilateral High‑Level Conference (MHLC)]{.underline}: Concerning the
MHLC on highly migratory fish stocks in the western-central Pacific,
both sides were pleased with the positive results so far and with
U.S.‑China cooperation on negotiations of this agreement. China remains
concerned with the nomenclature under which Taiwan participates in this
and other international fisheries bodies, such as the Interim Scientific
Committee (ISC) for tuna, and Li said such concerns could affect
China\'s participation in those meetings. The U.S. delegation emphasized
the importance of Taiwan\'s participation in those meetings, commended
China\'s constructive approach in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna
Commission negotiations, and noted the informal nature of the ISC.

[Shiprider Program]{.underline}: The United States and the PRC continued
to work together to ensure effective implementation of UNGA Resolution
46/215 in the North Pacific Ocean pursuant to the terms of the U.S.-PRC
Shiprider Agreement signed in Washington D.C. on 3 December 1993. The
Agreement established boarding procedures for law enforcement officials
of either country to board and inspect U.S. or PRC flagged vessels
suspected of driftnet fishing. The MOU also established a shiprider
program, which allows PRC fisheries enforcement officials to embark on
U.S. Coast Guard resources during each driftnet fishing season.
\[Pursuant to this provision, the PRC has provided a total of 38
enforcement officials to the USCG from 1994 to 2005.\] As a bilateral
enforcement agreement, the MOU facilitates/expedites investigations of
suspicious vessels when they are encountered on the high seas. The MOU
will expire on December 31, 2009.

[North Pacific Salmon]{.underline}: Both sides agreed that North Pacific
salmon issues were an area of notable success and cooperation.
Ambassador West encouraged China to join the North Pacific Anadromous
Fish Commission (NPAFC), saying that China\'s participation would
strengthen this organization. Li noted China\'s good relationship with
the NPAFC and said that China would continue cooperating with it.

[Pollock, Shark Finning, Turtles, WSSD, Toothfish]{.underline}: Both
sides noted good long‑term cooperation on the Central Bering Sea Pollock
Convention, and committed to the goal of rebuilding those pollock stocks
as soon as possible. The U.S. delegation noted the lack of progress
toward that goal, and urged patience so as not to risk damaging the
investment so far by premature resumption of commercial fishing.

On the Shark Finning Act, the Chinese said that they understand U.S.
goals but believe the Act will be difficult to implement. They would
prefer to use multilateral organizations to accomplish the same goals.
The U.S. delegation said it was willing to consult.

The U.S. delegation welcomed Chinese participation in sea turtle
protection meetings. The Chinese side noted its cooperation with the
United States on this issue and expressed interest in learning more
about relevant technologies.

The U.S. delegation called attention to the importance of oceans and
fisheries at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
and asked China to support U.S. initiatives there. Li said that the BOF
was cooperating on fisheries issues with the State Environmental
Protection Administration, which is the lead Chinese agency for WSSD.

Both sides recognized that certain types of subsidies exacerbate
overcapacity and agreed to discuss these issues further. China noted the
need to define which subsidies are positive and which are negative.

Ambassador West urged China to become a full member of the Commission
for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR). She
noted two recent problems with catch documentation, and asked for
information about toothfish processing methods and conversion rates. Li
responded that China was considering membership but has not made a final
decision.

**[Next Meeting]{.underline}**: The two countries have not yet scheduled
the next fisheries consultations.

**[Staff Contacts]{.underline}**

[NOAA Fisheries]{.underline}:

Paul Niemeier

Office of International Affairs (F/IA1)

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

1315 East-West Highway, Room 12752

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Telephone: (301) 713-2276

Fax: (301) 713-2313

E-mail: paul.niemeier@noaa.gov

[Department of State]{.underline}:

H. Stetson Tinkham

Office of Marine Conservation (OES/OMC)

Department of State

2201 C Street, NW, Room 5806

Washington, D.C. 20520-7818

Telephone: (202) 647-2335

Fax: (202) 736-7350

E-mail: tinkhamsx@state.gov