Fisheries: South Atlantic Ocean
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 37757 on Fisheries: South Atlantic Ocean, what assessment he has made of the impact of Chinese fishing fleets on fishing stocks in the South Atlantic.
Answered by Emma Hardy
Defra is aware of significant fishing activity undertaken by Chinese vessels operating in the South Atlantic. There is a high level of fishing activity targeting squid in an area of the high seas to the north of Falkland Islands waters.
The Falkland Islands Government continue to gather information on the health of squid and other stocks in the region. Data is also compiled at a larger scale by The Food and Agriculture Organisation, including in its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report. The most recent edition of this report from 2024 highlights that in 2021, 58.8% of all assessed fish stocks in the Southwest Atlantic and 59.5% in the Southeast Atlantic were at biologically sustainable levels.
Defra is also aware that gaps in fisheries data collection still remain and continues to seek progress on addressing these gaps through the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organisation.
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