NOAA launched its 2019 ‘Improving International Fisheries Management’ report highlighting the nations who haven’t made much effort to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.
In 2017’s report, NOAA identified Mexico, Ecuador and Russia for reported IUU fishing activities but have since taken corrective actions to remedy those activities.
In 2019’s report, Mexico, Ecuador and the Republic of Korea were identified for reported IUU activities.
In the report:
- Republic of Korea:
Failed to apply sufficient sanctions to deter its vessels from engaging in fishing activities that violate conservation and management measures adopted by an international fishery management organization. - Mexico:
The country was again identified for the same matter in 2015 and 2017. It continued unauthorized activities of its fishing vessels in U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico. - Equador:
Ecuador’s actions were limited to review of observer documents related to the allegation. If the observer forms in question were left blank, Ecuador apparently concluded there was no violation. If the forms indicated that a turtle was eventually released unharmed, despite an alleged lack of effort to prevent entanglement in the net, Ecuador concluded there was no violation, despite the requirement under C-04-05 to prevent entanglement in the net.With respect to allegations in 2016 of tuna discards in violation of Resolution C-13-01, Ecuador’s actions also appeared to be limited to a review of observer documents related to the allegation.The United States is particularly concerned with Ecuador’s failure to fully investigate allegations of noncompliance with IATTC resolutions by Ecuador’s purse-seine fleet. Ecuador’s purseseine fleet comprises approximately 40% of the total number of purse-seine vessels currently authorized to fish for tunas in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
During summer, the European Union published an infographic, providing information of the Illegal, Unreported and Undocumented (IUU) fishing, adding that fishing can be though of as illegal when there’s no authorization, when it is against conservation and management measures by RFMOs and when it is against national laws and international regulations.
Oceana analyzed the activities of vessels with histories of possible illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, forced labor or human trafficking, and resulted to three suspicious behaviours that vessels follow when they’re conducting IUU:
- AIS Avoidance
- Extended Time at Sea
- Port Avoidance
To explore more click on the PDF herebelow
