The 2012 National Fisheries Work Meeting opened in Beijing on 23 December. The Meeting reviewed national fisheries work of 2012 and outlined the key work of 2013. MOA Vice Minister Niu Dun attended and addressed the Meeting.
In his speech, Niu pointed out that in 2012, according to the general principles of “seeking steady progress”, fisheries authorities thoroughly implemented decisions of CPC Central Committee and the State Council, overcame all kinds of difficulties and challenges, and went all out for the rural economic development.
Initial success was achieved in several priority areas: a package of supporting policies is being drafted; patrols were sent to protect fishermen, proved to be effective and attracted the world’s attention; upon the Bohai bay oil spill event, 1.35 billion yuan of compensation was paid to fishermen, which set a historic precedence for compensating the damage to fishery resources; this year national budget allocated additional 8.01 billion yuan for fishery infrastructure building.
In 2012, it is estimated that the overall national output of aquatic products will reach 59.06 million tons, up 5.4 percent over last year. Aquaculture will yield 43.05 million tons, up 7 percent. Domestic fishing will provide 14.83 million tons, almost the same as 2011.
Pelagic fishing will bring in 1.18 million tons, up 2.8 percent year on year. From January to October, the total amount of import and export of aquatic products is 6.4694 million tons with a total sum of 21.644 billion US dollars, among them 3.0447 million tons of export and 3.4247 million tons of import, 15.046 billion US dollars of export and 6.598 billion US dollars of import, trade surplus is 8.448 billion US dollars, up 14.4 percent on last year. It is estimated the annual average net income of fishermen will exceed10,000 yuan, at 11256 yuan, up 1244 yuan on last year. Fisheries GDP will continue to grow and reach 1725.5 billion yuan, up 15 percent.
The Meeting outlined the key work of fisheries in 2013: fully implement related policies, lay a solid foundation for modern fisheries; actively develop fishery production, and ensure ample supply of aquatic products and continued increase of fishermen’s income; pay close attention to safety supervision on fisheries, and further improve safety level of fisheries; strengthen conservation of fishery resources and ecosystem; reinforce fishery law enforcement, and improve the ability to protect fishermen and maintain production order; promote scientific innovation and improve the technical supporting levels of fisheries; deepen the study on regulations and laws, and innovate in institutional arrangements.
Over 130 participants attended this Meeting, representing provincial fishery authorities, fishery bureaus of different sea areas, fishery colleges, universities and research institutes, and Beijing-based fishery public institutions under MOA.
