Chinese official promises Fiji processing jobs, training for fisheries access

China’s top fisheries official has promised Fiji major investments in processing and training in return for access to its waters.

Speaking to officials at Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries in Navu in the past week, Yu Kangzhen told his hosts, “We have huge potential for cooperation,” and promised China would create employment locally in processing, warehousing, and research facilities. 

Yu promised Chinese fishing companies would adopt a “sustainable approach” to fisheries in Fiji, in remarks reported by the propaganda department at the Agriculture Ministry in Beijing, where Yu is a vice minister in charge of fisheries.   

During his visit to Fiji, Yu also met with the crews of locally docked Chinese vessels. While his office has pledged to police the activities of Chinese vessels operating in international waters, Yu has also in the past year vigorously defended China’s fishing fleets from what he’s termed as unfair criticism by Western governments and NGOs.