Market-Based Measures Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in Indonesian Waters

Abstract

While coastal States are responsible to protect, conserve and manage living resources under their jurisdiction, flag States are responsible to ensure compliance by their nationals and vessels flying their flag to the coastal States’ conservation measures. However, flag States, who are supposedly having more access to the identity of their vessels, are often left turning blind eyes to the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing activities conducted by their vessels. Failure to reach a common consensus on the meaning of a genuine link of a vessel has also contributed to the lack of flag States’ control which has been identified as the root cause of IUU fishing. Even though the odds seem to be in favour of the IUU fishing offenders, recent developments have seen some improvements in the flag States’ commitment after the European Union threatened them with a possible seafood ban for failing to adopt more responsible steps to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing by their fleets. This chapter explores relevant market-based measures as possible tools to deter IUU fishing in Indonesia as a representation of the global south that does not have a market power comparable to the EU but is running out of options to put an end to IUU fishing.