August 26, 2013 — Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, also known as pirate fishing, is a massive problem across the globe. It is estimated that IUU fishing costs the industry as much as $23.5 billion per year and accounts for up to 20% of global wild marine catch, though the extent of the problem is impossible to determine.
From an environmental perspective, illegal fishers are often overfishing already depleted fish stocks, using destructive gear, and sabotaging responsible fisheries management efforts. From a health and community perspective, pirate fishers are robbing subsistence harvesters and other waterfront dwellers of their livelihoods. Over one billion people, most of whom are in developing countries, rely on seafood as their primary source of protein.
The word “pirate” can evoke some pretty whimsical imagery, but the reality is that pirate fishing is so convoluted and multifaceted that it defies any simple description. Activities that fall into the category of IUU fishing range from fishing above the set quota for a certain species (and failing to report it), to fishing within the EEZ of another country without permission, to violating regulations on a specific fishery, such as equipment standards, maximum trip time in a designated area, or maximum by-catch thresholds.
Some pirate ships hide their identities and origins by flying a different flag or painting a fake and unregistered name on their hull. According to Greenpeace, “With the click of a computer mouse, for as little as US$500, flags can be bought over the internet from countries like Malta, Panama, Belize, Honduras, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Policing the Open Seas
At the crux of the issue is a lack of enforcement. Beyond the inherent difficulty of policing the open ocean, an absence of global coordination perpetuates this problem. Along with weak international governance, which comprises a patchwork of authorities and regulations, there are issues of poor cooperation, whether due to limited resources or interest, in getting individual nation-states to enforce IUU regulations at their ports. This is especially the case in certain regions, such as along the west coast of Africa and around the Pacific Islands, where fish habitats are lush and the enforcement capacity of sovereign authorities is minimal or nonexistent.