An evaluation of degradation of marine capture fisheries in China

Desertification of marine capture fishery environments results in fewer fishing seasons, catches of immature, lower-value species, and sometimes none at all. Millions of people depend on fisheries for their livelihoods, so this is a critical social problem. Factor analysis was conducted to assess the desertification status of marine fishery environments, identify its causes, and propose recommendations on appropriate governance. The study's findings were as follows. First, incremental changes in fisheries' production resource extraction are the primary cause of desertification of these marine environments. Second, from 1978 to 2016, a discernible desertification trend was evident for China's fishery capture environments, offshore catches are about 60 % higher than allowable catches. Since the onset of the new millennium, many factors have hurt the deterioration of unit catches, production share, and resource quality every year. Third, desertification of fishery capture environments is linked directly to overfishing and external environmental damage. Fourth, centralized policies on marine fishery resource management and the absence of incentivizing institutional arrangements are the underlying causes of the problem. Last, but not least, developing clear property rights and appropriate regulations should feature centrally in the governance of marine fishery resources. Policy measures should be developed to motivate fishing communities, social organizations, and other key stakeholders to participate in governing fisheries' desertification. Moreover, appropriate market mechanisms are required to avert the tragedy of the commons relating to marine fishery common-pool resources and the dilemma of suboptimal choice in fishing behavior.