Incursion of Chinese Fishing Trawlers in the Persian Gulf

Fishermen in southern Iran continue to complain about Chinese vessels trawling in Persian Gulf waters. But Islamic Republic officials insist they have banned the practice and will deal with any violators.

The most recent remarks to this effect came from judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Ismaili, who reiterated on Tuesday, July 15 that trawling is prohibited in Iranian waters. "We have told the IRGC’s navy and the naval police unit to deal with trawlers," he added.

Trawling is a method of fishing that uses a large, funnel-shaped net. The net is attached to boards on both sides of the vessel and is usually dragged by it along the seabed. According to environmental experts, it causes serious damage to the seafloor, coral reefs, sharks, sea turtles and other parts of the marine ecosystem.

Chinese trawlers have been frequenting the waters of southern Iran for quite some time, apparently little-hindered. For more than two years local fishermen have been claiming that the Fisheries Organization gave these boats permission for mass fishing in the area, which in turn has led to a slump in their businesses. Officials from the Fisheries Organization itself, meanwhile, have made contradictory statements about this issue and have refused to provide a clear explanation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also entered the fray, positioning itself as a supporter of local fishermen and claiming it has so far seized several illicit trawlers along with their cargo.

Last week, Shargh newspaper published a report on the latest situation of fishermen and trawlers, writing that the Chinese can make up to 90 billion tomans [US$4million] from one shift fishing in Iran. The newspaper added that Chinese vessels trawl at night to keep away from prying eyes, using electronic systems to identify where the fish are gathering.

Shargh also suggested that recent protests against the presence of Chinese trawlers had been effective, stating that of the 91 Chinese trawler ships currently operating, only 17 were in Iranian waters.

Rows, arrests, conflicts and demonstrations against the Chinese presence in the waters of southern Iran are ongoing. Issa Fooladi, an Iranian who has run a boat for fishing lanternfish for the past seven years, told IranWire that the situation was dire.

"The fishing situation [in general] is not very good at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of exports,” he said. “The main problems started when, unfortunately, there were more unlicensed vessels than licensed ones in the area.”

Fooladi links the activity of Chinese ships in the waters of southern Iran to profiteering on the part of a very small number of people, which he believes is taking place with the cooperation of Iran’s deputy minister of fisheries and the head of the Fisheries Organization.

"Following the issuance of fishing licenses to the Chinese,” he said, “we suddenly came across about 40 Chinese vessels in our stretch of water, which was a very rich fishing area. This has and this made fishing really difficult – and for many, impossible.”

Fooladi understands that the Chinese have invested over two million dollars in this field. "With numerous protests by fishermen and submission of documents, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries of the Fisheries Organization revoked the Chinese fishing licenses in 2019." But, he said, about three Chinese ships remain in the area. They can reach depths of 200 meters and catch lanternfish. "I am one hundred percent against the presence of Chinese vessels," he said.

Criticizing the apparently amenable stance of Iranian fisheries and provincial officials on Chinese trawl boats, Fooladi said: "Some years ago, a fisheries official agreed to receive $10,000 from the Chinese in exchange for a 45-day license for each of their private vessels. Such a deal was very convenient for the Chinese.”