Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing as Transnational Organized Crimes

Abstract

IUU Fishing (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing) is a fishing activity conducted in territorial waters or EEZ of a country that is unlawfully or unlicensed, and it is not reported or incorrectly reported either on its operations or the data of the vessels and its catch to the authorized fisheries institution. IUU fishing criminals are often a group of foreign organized crime that may cause the implementation of legal proceedings against IUU fishing perpetrators will be more difficult due to the limitations of coastal state jurisdiction. IUU fishing has become a global threat because this crime has occurred in many countries and resulted in enormous losses to the coastal state. Therefore, IUU fishing needs to be recognized as a transnational organized crime. The classification of IUU fishing as an organized transnational crime will facilitate the process of eradicating the practice of IUU fishing because every country should cooperate in the settlement and prevention of IUU fishing crime. Thus, IUU fishing is not only the responsibility of the coastal state alone, but also the global responsibility.