How Illegal Fishing is Destroying Our Oceans and What We Can Do About It
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Illegal fishing is a global problem that affects millions of people and threatens the health of our oceans. It is the practice of catching fish in ways that violate the laws and regulations of a fishery, such as fishing without a license, using banned gear, or exceeding quotas. Illegal fishing also includes unreported fishing, which is when fishers do not report or misreport their catch to the authorities, and unregulated fishing, which is when fishers operate in areas or for stocks that have no conservation or management measures.
Illegal fishing is not only bad for the environment, but also for the economy and society. It undermines the efforts of responsible fishers who follow the rules and compete fairly. It deprives governments of revenue and reduces the food security and livelihoods of coastal communities. It also contributes to human rights violations, such as forced labor and human trafficking, and fuels organized crime and corruption.
In this blog post, I will explain the impacts of illegal fishing on the marine environment and biodiversity, as well as on the social and economic aspects. I will also suggest some solutions to illegal fishing that involve various stakeholders at different levels. Finally, I will share some tips on how you can help by choosing seafood that is legal, sustainable, and ethical.
The Impacts of Illegal Fishing on the Marine Environment and Biodiversity
Illegal fishing has many negative impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity. It can:
- Deplete fish stocks and reduce their resilience to climate change and other stressors.
- Damage marine habitats and ecosystems, such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves.
- Kill or injure non-target species, such as dolphins, turtles, sharks, and seabirds, by entangling them in nets or hooks.
- Introduce invasive species or diseases that can harm native species or ecosystems.
- Pollute the ocean with discarded fishing gear, fuel, or chemicals.
How Illegal Fishing Depletes Fish Stocks
One of the main effects of illegal fishing is that it depletes fish stocks by catching more fish than what is allowed or sustainable. This can lead to overfishing, which is when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce. Overfishing can cause fish populations to decline or collapse, making them vulnerable to extinction.
According to a report by [WWF] in 2018, more than one-third of global fish stocks are overfished. Some of the most overfished species include tuna, cod, hake, herring, and anchovies. These species are important for food security and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
How Illegal Fishing Damages Marine Habitats and Ecosystems
Another impact of illegal fishing is that it damages marine habitats and ecosystems by using destructive fishing methods or gear. For example:
- Bottom trawling is a technique that involves dragging a large net along the seafloor to catch fish. This can destroy or disturb the benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms and habitats, such as corals, sponges, worms, and mollusks.
- Dynamite fishing is a practice that involves using explosives to stun or kill fish. This can cause loud noises that can harm marine mammals and other animals that rely on sound for communication and navigation. It can also create craters and debris that can damage coral reefs.
- Cyanide fishing is a method that involves spraying cyanide (a toxic chemical) into coral reefs to stun or capture fish. This can kill or injure corals and other reef organisms, as well as affect their growth and reproduction.
These fishing methods or gear can also affect the structure and function of marine ecosystems by altering their biodiversity, productivity, trophic (food web) interactions, nutrient cycling, and resilience.
How Illegal Fishing Kills or Injures Non-Target Species
A third impact of illegal fishing is that it kills or injures non-target species by catching them accidentally or intentionally. These species are also known as bycatch or incidental catch. They include marine mammals (such as dolphins, whales, seals), sea turtles, sharks, rays, seabirds, and other fish species.
Bycatch can occur when illegal fishers use non-selective or indiscriminate fishing gear, such as gillnets (which are nets that entangle fish by their gills), longlines (which are lines with hooks attached), or purse seines (which are nets that encircle schools of fish). Bycatch can also occur when illegal fishers target protected or endangered species for their meat, fins, shells, eggs, or other products.
According to a study by [FAO] in 2018, global bycatch is estimated to be between 6.8 and 27.0 million tonnes per year, which is equivalent to 10.8% to 43.6% of the reported global catch. Some of the most affected species by bycatch include dolphins, turtles, sharks, albatrosses, and tuna.
The Impacts of Illegal Fishing on the Social and Economic Aspects
Illegal fishing also has serious social and economic consequences. It can:
- Reduce the income and employment opportunities of legal fishers and related industries, such as processing, marketing, and tourism.
- Increase the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition for millions of people who depend on fish as a source of protein and micronutrients.
- Undermine the rule of law and maritime security by creating conflicts and tensions between countries and regions over fishing rights and resources.
- Enable human rights abuses, such as slavery, child labor, violence, and exploitation, on board illegal fishing vessels or in their supply chains.
- Support criminal networks that engage in money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, smuggling, and terrorism.
How Illegal Fishing Reduces the Income and Employment Opportunities of Legal Fishers
One of the social and economic impacts of illegal fishing is that it reduces the income and employment opportunities of legal fishers and related industries. This is because illegal fishing creates unfair competition and lowers the market price of fish. It also reduces the availability and quality of fish resources for legal fishers.
According to a report by [World Bank] in 2017, illegal fishing costs the global economy between $10 billion and $23.5 billion per year. This represents a loss of 11% to 26% of the total value of fisheries production. Illegal fishing also affects the livelihoods of more than 800 million people who are directly or indirectly involved in the fisheries sector.
How Illegal Fishing Increases the Risk of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
Another social and economic impact of illegal fishing is that it increases the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition for millions of people who depend on fish as a source of protein and micronutrients. Fish is a vital food source for many people, especially in developing countries, where it provides more than 20% of animal protein intake. Fish is also rich in essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin A.
Illegal fishing reduces the availability and accessibility of fish for human consumption by diverting it to illegal markets or by wasting it as bycatch or discards. Illegal fishing also affects the quality and safety of fish by exposing it to contamination or spoilage due to poor handling or storage practices.
According to a report by [UNEP] in 2014, illegal fishing contributes to food insecurity and malnutrition by reducing the global fish supply by up to 25%24. This could result in an additional 40 million people being undernourished by 2050.
How Illegal Fishing Undermines the Rule of Law and Maritime Security
A third social and economic impact of illegal fishing is that it undermines the rule of law and maritime security by creating conflicts and tensions between countries and regions over fishing rights and resources. Illegal fishing can violate the sovereignty and jurisdiction of coastal states by encroaching into their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) or territorial waters. Illegal fishing can also infringe on the rights and interests of other states or entities that have legitimate claims or agreements over shared or transboundary fish stocks.
Illegal fishing can trigger or escalate disputes or violence between states or groups over access to or control over fish resources. It can also undermine the cooperation and trust among states or regions that are needed to manage and conserve fish resources effectively.
According to a report by [Stimson Center] in 2015, illegal fishing poses a threat to maritime security by increasing the risk of armed conflict, piracy, terrorism, smuggling, trafficking, corruption, and instability in various regions around the world.
How Illegal Fishing Enables Human Rights Abuses
A fourth social and economic impact of illegal fishing is that it enables human rights abuses, such as slavery, child labor, violence, and exploitation, on board illegal fishing vessels or in their supply chains. Illegal fishing vessels often operate with poor working conditions, low wages, long hours, inadequate safety measures, or no contracts or documentation for their crew members. Illegal fishing vessels also often recruit their crew members through deception, coercion, or force.
Illegal fishing vessels can subject their crew members to various forms of abuse, such as physical violence, sexual assault, verbal harassment, confinement, deprivation, or torture. Illegal fishing vessels can also prevent their crew members from leaving or escaping by withholding their passports, wages, or communication devices.
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