China Unveils 15th Five-Year Fisheries Plan with 10M-Ton Marine Catch Cap

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has issued the National Fisheries Development 15th Five-Year Plan, setting the policy framework for the sector through 2030. According to official reports, the blueprint caps domestic annual marine wild catches at under 10 million metric tons while pushing for higher-quality aquaculture and facility upgrades. The policy also mandates continued enforcement of the Yangtze River fishing ban, the revitalization of the aquatic seed industry, expanded use of artificial intelligence, and modernized distant-water operations alongside participation in global fisheries governance.

As the world's largest producer and consumer of aquatic foods, China's official fisheries roadmap directly influences regional marine ecosystems, global seafood supply chains, and international maritime resource governance. Enforcing a strict 10-million-ton cap on domestic marine capture fisheries signals Beijing's intent to curb domestic overfishing while shifting supply growth toward high-tech aquaculture and biosecure breeding.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has released the National Fisheries Development 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining key sectoral targets and conservation mandates through 2030, according to a report by Xinhua. The policy blueprint focuses on qualitative improvements across aquaculture and wild capture fisheries. Under the targets set for 2030, the total area of fishery waters is slated to remain stable, while the supply of premium aquatic products is projected to expand significantly. The ministry emphasized optimizing industrial structures to balance steady output with higher environmental standards. A central component of the plan is the continued enforcement of resource management caps on domestic wild fisheries. According to the document, China will maintain its total allowable catch framework and cap annual domestic marine capture yields at within 10 million metric tons. To enforce this, authorities plan to introduce a classified and graded management system for marine fishing vessels. Ecological restoration features prominently in the 2030 targets. The ministry stated that China will firmly maintain its 10-year fishing moratorium across the Yangtze River basin, aim to continuously lift the Yangtze aquatic biological integrity index, and slow the depletion of offshore marine fishery resources while stabilizing or increasing populations of rare aquatic species. On the production side, the plan calls for cultivating 'new quality productive forces' within the sector. Key initiatives include revitalizing the domestic aquatic seed industry, stabilizing and expanding breeding areas, and upgrading both freshwater and mariculture facilities. Policymakers specifically called for accelerated technological breakthroughs in core equipment alongside broader deployment of big data and artificial intelligence in facility-based aquaculture. The blueprint also addresses distant-water fisheries and international engagement. It outlines objectives to modernize ocean-going fishing operations, manage external maritime safety risks, participate deeply in global fisheries governance, and pursue pragmatic international cooperation while upholding the responsibilities of a major fishing nation.