- Twelve per cent of the global fish catch comes from the South China Sea, but that fishery is headed for collapse.
- This will have important national security implications for regional countries and Australia. Ensuing security tensions will be exacerbated by fishing nationalism.
- Establishing a sovereignty neutral international fisheries management regime could resolve this and encourage habits of cooperation amongst claimants.
- Consumer states and civil society will need to play a role to achieve this.
- Australia should support the establishment of a regional fisheries management organisation to preserve the fish stocks of the South China Sea.
- Australia should offer practical support on fisheries management to regional countries.
- Civil society should promote, and governments support, greater transparency and awareness on fishing practices and marine degradation in the region.