Environmental Politics Ocean Governance Questions
The concept of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing refers to fishing activities that are conducted in violation of national or international laws and regulations. Illegal fishing involves fishing without proper authorization, such as fishing in prohibited areas or using banned fishing methods. Unreported fishing refers to fishing activities that are not reported or documented, often to evade regulations or hide the true extent of fishing efforts. Unregulated fishing refers to fishing activities that are not subject to effective management or control measures, either due to the absence of regulations or the lack of enforcement. IUU fishing poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, fish stocks, and the livelihoods of coastal communities, and it undermines efforts to achieve sustainable ocean governance.