The Gulf of Guinea and West Africa: a new focal point?

[davidbfpo]

The maritime dimension of China's presence around Africa has not appeared here before IIRC, but this diplomatic act may change matters:

Officials from 24 African countries met in Cameroon last month and called for China to stop illegal fishing off the West African coast.

Greenpeace in 2013:

reported that the number of Chinese fishing boats operating in African waters soared from 13 in 1985 to 462 in 2013. The report said there were 114 cases of illegal fishing over an eight-year period in the waters off Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone. It said the boats were operating without licenses or in prohibited areas.

Link:http://atlantablackstar.com/2016/01/07/24-african-countries-ban-china-from-fishing-illegally-in-their-waters/?

I was unaware that Chinese trawlers were active in the Gulf of Guinea and adjacent seas; although they have been reported, if not hijacked off the Somali coast.

The report suggests the fish are offloaded locally and have caused havoc amongst local economies.

It maybe interested to see how this activity develops. China has made some investments in the region, IIRC far less than East Africa (railways and oil).

The main thread is: China's Expanding role in Africa:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=2164