Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens global maritime security. IUU fishing operations exacerbate food insecurity, marine degradation, organized crime, and poverty. IUU fishing is challenging to combat and undermines sustainable fisheries practices. People are increasingly reliant on seafood and fisheries for subsistence and livelihoods, causing increasing pressure on fragile marine ecosystems. Competition over marine resources has led to the evasion of fisheries authorities and the flourishing of corruption and transnational organized crime. Billions of dollars of global revenue are lost annually due to IUU fishing. This paper aims to link IUU fishing impacts to national security policy. Specifically, it investigates whether the regional approach to fisheries management could be strengthened through collaborative processes and whether the United States can play a more significant role in combatting IUU fishing. Capacity building for fisheries monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) efforts coupled with well-enforced fisheries policy is vital to deterring illicit actors. Without strengthening the US and international approach to combat IUU fishing, the tensions among fishing nations could threaten geopolitical stability.

White Paper – Bad Catch: Examining IUU Fishing by The American Security Project on Scribd

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