Circular of the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on strengthening marine fishery resource surveys and assessments.

This Circular is issued to implement the requirements of the newly revised Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China regarding strengthening the monitoring and assessment of fishery resources and the environment, and to effectively strengthen marine fishery resource surveys and resource assessments.
The Circular calls for improving the organization, standardization, supervision, and data management of marine fishery resource investigations, createing a national survey and assessment network. More specifically, the Circular sets detailed operational requirements. Surveying agencies must follow the newly published national standard (SC/T 9403-2025) and conduct, in principle, quarterly surveys. It prescribes technical review procedures for survey plans, sampling, station design, gear specifications, data handling, sample preservation, and forbids unauthorized changes or sale of survey catches. Vessel monitoring, public disclosure of survey plans at departure ports, rental agreements when hiring fishing vessels, and requirements for special permits during closed seasons are specified.