Collaborative research on fisheries and aquaculture in China

About

Between its capture fisheries and aquaculture production, China is the world’s largest producer of seafood. Given the extraordinary scale at which these two industries operate, instituting effective fisheries reform could have the effect of generating tremendous economic and ecological benefits for coastal China. 

We worked alongside Chinese researchers to help solve complex, interdisciplinary resource management problems and build a lasting foundation for advances in Chinese fisheries science. We aided in the development of crucial tools and strategies for Chinese scientists to evaluate their fisheries, forecast the impacts of fisheries reform in China, build local capacity to ensure that Chinese fisheries will be sustainably managed long-term, and build upon the existing body of knowledge on Chinese fisheries for the benefit of the global fisheries research community.

Approach

This was a portfolio of projects grounded in establishing close working relationships with Chinese researchers and identifying opportunities for collaboration. Given our scientific and technical expertise, we were well-positioned to help local researchers forecast the impacts of Chinese fisheries reform and develop more sustainable resource management strategies. 

To that end, we aimed to develop an adaptable simulation tool that could evaluate the biological effects of diverse management interventions, incorporate climate change factors, and also project the effects of reform on any species of interest.

Key Findings

We designed a user-friendly simulation tool to quantitatively assess the impacts of alternative management scenarios on Chinese fisheries. In an effort to build local capacity, we trained Chinese researchers in the concepts that underpin the tool, taught them how to use it effectively, and produced an application framework for those who wish to use the tool in their future work.

Partners

This project was a collaboration with scientists and stakeholders from the Marine Fishery Institute of Zhejiang Province, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Shanghai Ocean University, and China Blue Sustainability Institute. It was funded by the Packard Foundation.