Collateral damage? Small‐scale fisheries in the global fight against IUU fishing

Abstract

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A synthesis of (non‐)compliance theories with applications to small‐scale fisheries research and practice

“…Small‐scale fisheries operate in diverse economic, social and cultural contexts (Cohen et al., 2019), preventing bullet‐proof solutions to non‐compliance problems (Boonstra et al., 2017; Mahon, McConney, & Roy, 2008; Oyanedel et al., 2020; Song et al, 2020). However, one characteristic that small‐scale fisheries share is that their operation depends on both social and ecological factors (Basurto, Gelcich, & Ostrom, 2013; Lindkvist et al., 2017).…”

“…are often located in developing countries that are highly dependent on the ocean as a source of employment and food, but smallscale fisheries also often suffer from chronic overexploitation, poor management and lack of enforcement capacity (Gelcich et al, 2017;McDonald, Mangin, Thomas, & Costello, 2016;Song et al, 2020).…”

Estimating illegal fishing from enforcement officers

“…Our results provide evidence of significant illegal activity in the small-scale fishing sector, highlighting the need to recognize and address the specific impacts of illegality on small-scale fisheries as a key component of designing solutions to reduce IUU fishing. Small-scale fisheries and its unique characteristics are often under-appreciated from IUU fishing assessments and interventions 42 . For example, new regulations to tackle IUU fishing in Chile have focused on increasing prosecution and strengthening sanctions (e.g., imprisonment), irrespective of the sector or fisheries.…”

“…For example, new regulations to tackle IUU fishing in Chile have focused on increasing prosecution and strengthening sanctions (e.g., imprisonment), irrespective of the sector or fisheries. This approach implicitly frames IUU fishing through lenses of industrial fishing and organized crime, raising the risk of disregarding the diversity and legitimacy associated to other approaches to addressing illegal fishing 42 . Addressing IUU fishing within small-scale fisheries must consider the legitimacy of measures 43 .…”

Progress and challenges in eliminating illegal fishing

“…Illegal fishing not only depletes fish stocks and causes economic loss. It also contributes environmental damage, gear loss and transnational crime (Liddick, 2014; Song et al., 2020). The environmental damage caused by illegal fishing is vast.…”