Just beyond the glow of coastal lights off Argentina’s shores, a vast fleet of Chinese fishing vessels—often described by maritime officials as a “floating city”—casts an eerie luminescence over the Atlantic. Over 500 ships gather at the edge of Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), their powerful lamps attracting and catching enormous quantities of squid, a critical species to marine ecosystems and Argentina’s local economy.
But as Argentine authorities approach, these vessels vanish into darkness, deliberately switching off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to evade detection. This practice is neither isolated nor unique to Argentina; it symbolises a global threat posed by China’s distant-water fishing fleet, now recognised as the world’s largest perpetrator of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
China’s distant-water fishing fleet—numbering at least 2,500 vessels—harvests roughly four million tons of fish annually. Yet, their reach and methods have provoked widespread condemnation for violating international maritime norms, devastating fish populations, and triggering human rights abuses.
In the Indian Ocean, the scale of these offences is starkly visible. A 2024 report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) detailed 86 separate cases linking Chinese vessels to IUU fishing and severe human rights abuses. Almost half of China’s authorized tuna longliners in the Southwest Indian Ocean region are involved in such violations. These vessels target economically valuable species like tuna and sharks, devastating local fisheries and threatening biodiversity.
Evidence suggests that these operations are not merely commercial but strategic. The Chinese government heavily subsidises its fleet, providing funding for fuel, equipment, and even vessel construction—covering up to half the total cost. Beijing has established dual-use naval facilities in the Indian Ocean, supporting these fleets’ logistical and strategic operations. Moreover, the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM), disguised among fishing vessels, frequently engages in intelligence-gathering and surveillance, further complicating efforts to curb illegal activities.
The economic impacts of China’s aggressive fishing practices are severe. Coastal fishing communities in Argentina and countries around the Indian Ocean report sharply declining catches, economic hardship, and growing resentment. The intense fishing pressure exhausts fish stocks and undermines local livelihoods, exacerbating economic instability.
In response, nations are beginning to push back. Argentina recently announced joint naval exercises with the United States specifically aimed at combating Chinese illegal fishing. India has intensified maritime surveillance and urged regional partners to confront these challenges collectively. At the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), China’s recent attempt to limit international scrutiny was decisively rejected.
Yet, despite mounting international criticism, China continues to deny wrongdoing publicly, declaring a “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal fishing. But actions speak louder than words: Chinese subsidies flow unabated, maritime militias operate without restraint, and environmental degradation accelerates.
China’s distant-water fleet remains a looming crisis for global fisheries and maritime security. Whether off Argentina’s Atlantic coast or in the heart of the Indian Ocean, this invisible armada persists, silently reshaping oceans and geopolitics alike. Unless international pressure intensifies and enforcement becomes stringent, this shadowy fleet may continue unchallenged, leaving depleted oceans and destabilised communities in its wake.