A severe decline in fishery resources has nearly paralyzed thefishing industry in east China, leaving many boats anchored at theharbor during this year's prime fishing season. Dwindling stocks due to years of overfishing and lower sea watertemperatures have brought about hard times for fishermen, who havereported the worst harvest ever this year around the Bohai Sea. In ports across Shandong province, a major seafood production basein eastern China, a large expanse of fishing boats are anchored inMay, a traditionally busy season for fishermen. Production has been halted for the majority of fishing vessels withengines more powerful than 220 kilowatts, as well as about 70 to 80percent of smaller vessels, according to a report from the ShandongMarine Fishing and Production Management Station. Li Xiaowei, a local fisherman in Yantai, is among the few who havepersisted in fishing, but he admits that his trips have mostlyended in disappointment.
"There are only a few mantis shrimp in one net, some nets are evenempty," Yu says. QUIET SEA Oceanologists say the recent low output at sea is the result ofexcessive fishing, over-exploitation and pollution -- factors thathave damaged fishery resources over the years. "China has seen a serious deterioration in offshore fisheryresources, and the stocks of many kinds of fish have dropped belowharvestable levels," says Zhang Yu, an official from Yantai's oceanand fishery bureau. Meanwhile, the fishery industry is also being hit by rising dieselcosts, as the price of diesel has climbed from 6,400 yuan (1,016U.S.
dollars) per tonne in 2010 to 8,700 yuan this year. Yu Shuiqiang, who operates two fishing vessels in Weihai, sayssurging fuel costs can not be offset by meager hauls. "Labor at sea only brings more losses, and staying idle at home atleast saves us the cost of diesel," Yu says. WEATHERING THE STORM The fishery standstill has impacted on the local economy, whichboasts a large presence of businesses engaged in seafoodprocessing, storage and shipping. Many factories have been forcedto close due to scarce orders.
Consumers have also felt the pinch of this year's poor harvest, asmost seafood products saw a 50-percent price hike in Shandong,which supplies seafood to many parts of the country. China's maritime authorities understand the gravity of thesituation, and the country has implemented stricter fishing bansand established more marine conservation areas with hopes ofreviving the fishery industry in the Bohai Sea. But experts say the critical task for the moment is to resettleout-of-work fishermen before the marine ecosystem recovers. "The government should encourage fishermen to 'go ashore' bycompensating them for their obsolete vessels and rewarding thosewho switch to mariculture work," says Yuan Yuqian, an official withRongcheng Port. Author Source xinhua Editor Yang Fan. I am an expert from Rubber Chemicals, usually analyzes all kind of industries situation, such as acetate spandex clothing , mastercraft boat cover.
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