Summary
The report analyzes the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of China's role as a global leader in seafood production and processing. It identifies critical challenges including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, resource depletion of high-value species, and the environmental impact of intensive aquaculture. Through case studies of tilapia, cod, and live reef food fish, the document highlights the need for improved traceability systems, alignment with international certification standards (such as MSC and BAP), and a transition toward low-carbon, eco-friendly production to maintain market access in the EU and US.
Key insights
- China has become the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of aquatic products, but its complex supply chain makes it difficult to pinpoint the specific links responsible for biological or ecosystem impacts.
- The tilapia industry in China is a global leader, with 2008 production accounting for 40% of the global total. While it is a low-energy protein source, the industry faces challenges regarding waste management, antibiotic use, and the environmental impact of feed ingredients like fishmeal.
- China's cod processing chain relies almost entirely on imports from four major fishing grounds. A significant issue is the lack of precise species coding in customs data, which can mask the origin of IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) catches, particularly from the Barents Sea.
- The live reef food fish trade, particularly for high-value species like the Leopard Coral Grouper (东星斑), is characterized by unsustainable 'boom-to-bust' patterns where resources are depleted in one area before fishing moves to a new region.
- The report recommends that the Chinese government establish a national traceability system and a long-term sustainable trade policy to protect biodiversity and reduce the environmental footprint of its overseas investments.
Cite the original document
- APA
- Hanson, A., Cui, H., Zou, L., Clarke, S., Muldoon, G., Potts, J., & Zhang, H. (n.d.). 走向绿色的中国渔业及水产品供应链. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/greening_china_fish_zh.pdf
- Chicago
- Hanson, Arthur, He Cui, Linlin Zou, Shelley Clarke, Geoffrey Muldoon, Jason Potts, and Huihui Zhang. 走向绿色的中国渔业及水产品供应链. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/greening_china_fish_zh.pdf.
- Wikipedia
- {{cite report |last1=Hanson |first1=Arthur |last2=Cui |first2=He |last3=Zou |first3=Linlin |last4=Clarke |first4=Shelley |last5=Muldoon |first5=Geoffrey |last6=Potts |first6=Jason |last7=Zhang |first7=Huihui |title=走向绿色的中国渔业及水产品供应链 |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/greening_china_fish_zh.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}
- BibTeX
- @techreport{hansonnd, author = {Hanson, Arthur and Cui, He and Zou, Linlin and Clarke, Shelley and Muldoon, Geoffrey and Potts, Jason and Zhang, Huihui}, title = {{走向绿色的中国渔业及水产品供应链}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/greening_china_fish_zh.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }
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