On November 11, 2019, Yantai University of PR China launched a course on occupational training in marine ranching and recreational fishery for 60 fishermen from Shandong Province. The training was supported by UNDP/GEF YSLME Phrase II Project in a bid to reduce fishing pressure while ensuring social safeguards of displaced fishermen joining the fishing vessel buy-back scheme, a major initiative of China and RO Korea to recover the fish stocks in the Yellow Sea.
Mr. Zhengguang Zhu, the Environment Officer of UNDP/GEF YSLME Phrase II Project，Mr. Bingjun Li, Dean of Ocean College of Yantai University, Mr. Baoqing Yang from Shandong Aquatic Biological Resources Conservation and Management Center, Mr. Libo Wang from Yantai Marine and Fishery Supervision Detachment, and Mr. Zhanwen Sun of Yantai Marine Technical School addressed at the opening ceremony.
The trainings will benefit 150 displaced fishermen from Shandong Province. The second phase of the training focus on fishing guide training, and the third phase targets improvement in marine ranching technical management skills.
“The training courses are in support of the zero-growth strategy of fishery production implemented by the Chinese Government to protect offshore resources through reduction of fishing vessels, application of total allowable catches (TAC) system”, said Mr. Qiu Shengyao, President of Pelagic Fishery and International Cooperation Branch of Shandong Fisheries Society and Professor of Yantai University.
UNDP/GEF YSLME Phrase II Project is one of the 22 large marine ecosystem projects under support by the Global Environmental Facility (the GEF) to support the efforts of littoral states for improved ocean governance, recovery of fisheries resources, reduction of nutrient loadings in coastal areas, and checking the loss of coastal wetlands from reclamation and conversions projects.
Between 2015 and 2020, the provinces along the Yellow Sea in China will decommission 4,633 large and medium sized vessels, representing a 23 per cent reduction in numbers in accordance to the review of the national implementation progress of the YSLME Strategic Action Programme adopted by China and RO Korea in 2009. In terms of power, this is a reduction of 741,031 kw.
Efforts to enhance fish stocks include marine ranching, an initiative that will provide employment opportunity for fishermen laid off from capture fisheries.
