Among the major coastal fishing states, China constitutes the largest fish producer and main exporter in the world, and therefore presents a fascinating case-study for the domestic implementation of international fisheries agreements. This book investigates the degree to which China has complied with the international agreements it has signed, and asks why it is failing to meet expectations. Crucially, it calls for greater emphasis on the political, rather than technical, issues involved in the implementation of international regimes. In turn, it examines how understanding the case of China can help us to develop solutions for improved international compliance in the future.

Gianluca Ferraro is policy analyst at the European Commission. His work focuses on policy implementation and environmental governance and he holds a PhD in Public Policy.

Introduction 1. Fisheries between international and national policy-making 2. Implementation in theory 3. The political system of the People's Republic of China 4. China's power centres and authority relations 5. Fisheries resources management and fishing licenses 6. Fisheries resources management and fishing quotas 7. Marine environmental protection and MPAs 8. Domestic implementation of the international fisheries agreements in China 9. International regimes in China 10. Conclusions