 | Fish Piracy Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a worldwide problem which is increasing in scale. But the international community lacks hard evidence because IUU fishing activities are camouflaged and information and data are therefore often anecdotal. Establishing the extent of IUU fishing and its impact on resources is a crucial issue, and regional fisheries management organisations and the NGO community can play a vital role in providing information and data to governments and international institutions. IUU fishing is an economic activity that will continue to exist as long as it is profitable. It is therefore important to better understand the social and economic factors that drive IUU fishing in order to identify more effective methods to combat this evil. This was the aim of the April 2004 OECD workshop on IUU fishing. The workshop looked at the various means available for deterring IUU fishing and sought to understand the costs and benefits of alternative strategies. Previous efforts of dealing with IUU fishing have produced meagre results, so new approaches are needed. The workshop asked whether existing institutions are capable of dealing with this often concealed, cross-border activity, and proposed new and alternative ways to deal with it. IUU fishing is a global environmental, economic and social threat. The international community and the countries most heavily involved need to consolidate their efforts and go beyond national interests if they are to succeed in ensuring the sustainability of the world's fisheries resources for future generations. |
