It is lamentable that Japan has decided to withdraw from the international ban on whale hunting. Still, that decision is of far less ecological consequence than China's genocide of oceanic life.

Don't get me wrong, Japan's withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission is greatly disappointing. Japan says it will only hunt whales in its own territorial waters and exclusive economic area, but those waters are significant in area and home to many whales. The impact here could be significant if the international community does not pay close heed to Japan's activity. The attention of Japan's two top allies, the U.S. and Australia, will be especially important in this regard. Nevertheless, it is good news that Japanese fleets will stay away from the Pacific deeps and the Antarctic. That should enable whale populations in those rich waters to develop on a better gradient than at present.

Unless, that is, China steps into the breach.

Because when it comes to fishing of endangered or at-risk marine wildlife, China is the major problem. Japan is at least limiting its activities in scale of hunting and area of operation. China is rapacious in its own fishing. Vast Chinese demand for shark fins causes more than 60 million of that animal group to be killed each year. And while some nations such as Ecuador are taking bold action to counter Chinese fishing fleets, many others turn a blind eye to Beijing's activity. Indeed, others are actively facilitating China's fish genocide by offering fishing rights in return for investment. This is a particularly problematic issue in regard to poorer nations such as Somalia, which are desperate for investment. The central problem here is that China's demand for fish is utterly out of sync with the sustainability of fish habitats. Depletion of fish populations is already a major concern, but extinction is a clear possibility in the coming decades.

So what should be done?

Well, monitor Japan as noted. But in the context of China's systemic disregard for international rules, including its rampant plastic pollution, the U.S. should lead an effort to limit Chinese fishing access and Chinese-market serving fishing operations from national exclusive economic zones around the planet. Chinese fishing activities in international waters should also be a focal point for environmental monitoring. If China does not alter course, which it almost certainly will not, the U.S. should lead international efforts to sanction China-serving fishing entities that damage the world's oceans.