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Action plan to combat illegal fishing is launched

10 May 2005

 

Defra Minister Ben Bradshaw launched the joint DFID-Defra action plan at the first in a series of illegal fishing stakeholder consultations at Chatham House.

illegal fishing, UgandaThe problem of illegal fishing

Illegal fishing is a serious global problem. It is similar in extent to the international trade in illegal timber, and threatens one of the world’s remaining global natural assets. DFID’s Renewable Natural Resources and Agriculture team has supported research that shows the worldwide value of illegal catches to be around US$9 billion a year. While $1.25 billion of this comes from the high seas, the remainder is taken from the national waters of coastal states.

Many of these losses are borne by the developing countries that provide over half of all internationally traded fishery products. Losses from the waters of sub-Saharan Africa amount to $1 billion a year – roughly equivalent to a quarter of Africa’s total annual fisheries exports. Illegal fishing therefore imposes significant economic costs on some of the poorest countries in the world where dependency on fisheries for food, livelihoods and revenues is high.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has proved stubbornly resistant to recent international attempts to control it. Its persistence is due to both economic incentives and the lack of global political resolve to tackle its root causes. Many states remain reluctant to adopt measures aimed at controlling their fishing vessels. Even where they have adopted such measures, enforcement is patchy.

Taking action

Recognising these problems, a small group of fisheries ministers and NGO leaders decided to establish the external linkHigh Seas Task Force. This has been chaired by Ben Bradshaw and has taken an international lead in promoting much-needed practical solutions that are incorporated in the action plan. DFID and Defra have established a joint Sustainable International Fisheries Team to provide leadership and support in implementing the external linkUK Action Plan to combat illegal fishing.

unlicensed shark catch

Killer facts

  • The value of illegal fishing for sub-Saharan Africa is US$1bn per year - almost one quarter of the annual total value of reported African fish exports.
  • Worldwide, the value of the illegal fish catch is likely to exceed $9 billion per year - comparable with illegal logging ($10-15 billion).
  • Fish export values are greater than combined values of tea, coffee, cocoa, bananas, rubber and sugar
  • Losses are borne largely by developing countries that provide over 50% of internationally traded fishery products.
  • Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is financed mostly by elements from developed and middle-income countries
  • Not all doom and gloom - success stories such as Nambia show the way forward. A 39% rise in GDP contribution from fisheries between 1990-2000 (from 4% to 12% of GDP). Political commitment led to control of illegal activity, resulting increases in productivity, revenues and jobs.

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