In January 2026, the New York Times published an interactive report on "abnormal" Chinese fishing vessel formations in the East China Sea. More than 1,400 vessels, the newspaper claimed, had aligned in formations stretching roughly 200 miles, possibly rehearsing a maritime blockade. The images went everywhere, carried by a compelling securitization narrative. However, put this map in front of someone who studies fisheries governance in the Indo-Pacific, and the likely first reaction would not