Illegal fishing is one of the main threats to our marine ecosystems. However, this practice, which goes beyond any regulatory framework, represents more than a quarter (28%) of global catches at present, according to the environmental association World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). A major subject in ecological and economic terms which led the UN to make June 5 the International Day to Combat Illegal Fishing.
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Also called illegal undeclared and unregulated fishing (IUU), this practice contributes to the overexploitation of our oceans, constitutes unfair competition and sometimes leads to working conditions that resemble modern slavery. The European Union, which had set itself the objective of eradicating this practice in 2020, did not achieve this objective.
► Deteriorated marine fauna
Practiced mainly on the high seas or in poorly regulated coastal areas, illegal fishing promotes the deterioration of marine biodiversity, since it is not subject to any capture restrictions. By extension, it hampers efforts to manage fish stocks. However, nearly 93% of fish stocks are already fully exploited (57.3%) or overexploited (34.4%), estimates the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
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The techniques used, such as fishing with poison or explosives, also directly threaten marine wildlife, including marine habitats.
► Legal fishermen penalized
According to the WWF, illegal fishing deprives the global economy of 8 to 19 billion euros per year. This is practiced to the detriment of local communities on the one hand, and legal fishermen on the other, subject to national and international standards.
Unlike traditional fishermen, illegal vessels, for example, pay neither taxes on maritime gear, nor landing fees, nor the license fees normally required.
► Degraded working conditions
In addition to these ecological and economic impacts, illegal fishing is “often linked to indecent and abusive working conditions and the practice of slavery”points out the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The interception of a Malaysian-flagged ship by the NGO Sea Shepherd in 2018 provided a glaring example. The 14 fishermen on board revealed the “inhumane living and working conditions » in which they were kept by their captain, who threatened them with guns to increase their productivity.
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Faced with the multiple pitfalls of illegal fishing, the European Union, the world’s leading importer of seafood, has applied regulations against illegal fishing since 2010. This notably includes a certification system for catches intended for European consumers.
In twelve years, eight States have received a red card from the Commission and been placed on a blacklist: Belize, Cambodia, Comoros, Guinea, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cameroon, and Trinidad and Tobago.
