Mission Ocean

Presented by Global Ocean Commission

“Working with Pew and other partners, Satellite Applications Catapult is developing a demonstrator that will help protect the world’s fisheries, giving them a front-row view of what is actually happening on the water. Together with its expert partners it has developed a prototype using satellite data and other information sources to create a system that is a one-stop hub for fisheries information – the beginning of an accessible and equitable global fisheries monitoring tool. The system analyses multiple data sources and millions of individual data points to automatically identify and alert operators to suspicious activity.

Currently, illegal fishers can always find a place to hide on the vast oceans. Using satellite imagery and other data sources that monitor their activity, Satellite Applications Catapult will shine a spotlight on those criminals and their activities, and help bring them to justice.”

A Word from the Organisation

Stuart Martin, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult commented, “The Catapult is working with the Pew Charitable Trusts and other partners to combat illegal fishing. This illegal activity has dramatic consequences not only on global fish stocks, our ecosystem and the ocean environment, but also on the livelihoods of small fishing villages throughout the world. Pew’s ambitious, yet achievable aim to eradicate illegal fishing within the next 10 years, contributes to the Global Ocean Commission’s overall goal to work together to restore the world’s oceans health.”

Associated Proposals

Proposal 4

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Proposal 4

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Setting IMO mandatory numbers for large fishing vessels, banning at-sea transshipment, ratifying and implementing international fisheries and labour treaties. Creating greater collaboration with industry and other stakeholders.

Proposal 4

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Learn more about this proposal

Illegal fishing severely undermines all existing conservation and management measures in place for fish stocks. It costs the global economy between US$10 and US$23.5 billion a year, and is largely carried out by vessels from a handful of countries that do not adhere to or comply with international regulations.

Poor countries, which do not have the capacity to monitor their waters and whose vital resources diminish because of illegal pillage, are the worst affected. Illegal fishing is also linked to other forms of criminality as fishing vessels can also be used for smuggling people, drugs and weapons. The illegality of the practice needs to be established, the likelihood of being caught and sanctioned needs to be increased, and illegally caught fish must be prevented from entering markets.

In order to combat and end illegal fishing, the Global Ocean Commission is calling for:

  • All high seas fishing vessels to carry a unique identification number and transponders, in order to be internationally identifiable and tracked in real time;
  • The banning of at-sea transshipment of fish;
  • Countries to adhere to international regulations relating to port entry control (Port State Measures Agreement);
  • Countries should adhere and comply with regional fisheries organisations and arrangements for high seas fish stocks and monitor activities of their nationals and fishing vessels;
  • Regional fisheries organisations should share information on potential illegal activities with other organisations and with enforcement agencies, and maintain coordinated lists of suspected illegal fishing vessels;
  • Illegal fishing vessels should have their flags removed, be refused access to ports and not be allowed access to markets for the fish that they have caught;
  • Countries should monitor all fishing vessels entering their ports, and deny entry to suspected illegal operators and their catch;
  • Governments should collaborate with industry and affected stakeholders to create a global information-sharing platform able to monitor and exchange data on all fishing vessels movements in real time, and so deter IUU fishing;
  • Retailers should commit to sourcing sustainable seafood and adopting effective traceability schemes;
  • Civil society organisations should step-up in their role as independent watchdogs to ensure the application of international and regional regulations. Local, national, and international authorities should collaborate with such independent watchdogs.