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Project

Ending Illegal Fishing 

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Ending Illegal Fishing 
Pressure on the world’s fish stocks is at an all-time high. Fishing fleets use modern technology and large vessels to fish in places that until recently were out of reach because they were too deep, remote, or dangerous to fish.

 And although many industrial fishing operations act within the law, some routinely disregard the rules. They do this in a variety of ways: failing to report their catches, using illegal gear, fishing without licenses, and even painting new names on fishing vessels while at sea to avoid detection by authorities.

This activity skews scientific stock assessments, undermines law-abiding fishers, and deceives consumers who trust that the fish they purchased was caught legally. Allowing illegal fishing to continue could have dire consequences for the health of the oceans, and for all who depend on it.  

Pew is focused on building a global system to combat illegal fishing by working with governments, fisheries management bodies, enforcement authorities, and the seafood industry to adopt and implement international agreements and regulations, and form multi-State coalitions that will safeguard and protect their waters.

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Fishing
Fishing
Data Visualization

Port Activity Study Reveals Illegal Fish to Enter Markets

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Data Visualization

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) catch continues to enter world markets, accounting for up to $23.5 billion worth of seafood each year. To combat this illicit activity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) came into force in 2016 after it surpassed 25 ratifications.

Port states
Port states
Video

Global Fisheries Need Better Governance to Sustain Key Stocks

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Video

Despite the critical role that key species play in marine ecosystems and the billions of dollars they generate for the global economy, there are inadequate rules in place to ensure that catch levels are sustainable.

Article

The Cape Town Agreement

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Article

The Cape Town Agreement

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing jeopardizes the health and sustainability of the world’s fisheries, undermines the livelihoods of law-abiding fishers, and is widely associated with crimes such as piracy, human trafficking, and arms and narcotics smuggling.

IF Brief
IF Brief
Issue Brief

Normas y consecuencias: Cómo mejorar las pesquerías internacionales

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Issue Brief

Pew está trabajando para reforzar la gobernanza de las pesquerías globales y promover la salud y la resiliencia de los océanos del planeta

Our Work

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Meet the Team

Learn about Pew's staff working to combat illegal fishing.

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Meet the Team

Learn about Pew's staff working to combat illegal fishing.

Learn More
Data Visualization

Three Treaties to End Illegal Fishing

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Data Visualization

To support efforts to end illegal fishing, The Pew Charitable Trusts advocates for the harmonized implementation of three international agreements that seek to make it more difficult for unscrupulous operators to exploit gaps in national and regional fishing regulations.

Article

How a Coast Guard Career Led to the Illegal Fishing Fight

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Article

In the effort to end illegal fishing and other crimes on the sea, enforcement plays a vital role. Daniel Schaeffer, a senior manager working on international fisheries for The Pew Charitable Trusts, strives for effective enforcement of laws intended to end and prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Issue Brief

Cómo terminar con la pesca ilegal

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Issue Brief

Cada vez que se compra pescado salvaje en un restaurante, una tienda o un muelle, la posibilidad de que se haya pescado de manera ilegal es de 1 entre 5. La pesca ilegal no declarada, a nivel mundial, asciende a 26 millones de toneladas métricas de pescado anuales por un valor de unos 20 000 millones de euros. Esto equivale a más de 800 kilogramos de pescado salvaje robado de los mares cada segundo. Con cerca de un 90 % del sector pesquero mundial totalmente explotado o sobreexplotado, es más indispensable que nunca emprender acciones para abordar la pesca ilegal, no declarada y no reglamentada (INDNR).