Illegal Fishing: The Ocean Theft Threatening Global Food Security

Illegal fishing…theft of the sea that threatens the world’s food

Marine fisheries are among the most important natural resources that millions of people around the world depend on as a major source of animal protein, and a basic pillar of food security and the economy in all its forms. However, these fisheries face increasing threats due to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices (IUU fishing), which contribute to the depletion of marine resources and undermine efforts to sustain them.

 This problem is exacerbated by increasing pressures on marine fisheries due to population growth and the increasing global demand for food. Which makes the need for rational and sustainable management of these resources urgent. In this context, fisheries emerge as a sustainable source of proteinIf livestock are managed rationally and responsibly, however, estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization indicate that about 26 million tons of fish are lost annually due to this phenomenon, which is a huge number equivalent to depriving millions of people of basic food, and wasting billions of dollars in economic resources.

This bleeding in marine wealth raises the alarm, not only to protect fish, but also to save humanity from the consequences of this depletion. Illegal fishing is not just an environmental violation, but rather constitutes a fundamental challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 14, which focuses on preserving the oceans and seas.

Illegal fishing threatens coastal countries

When talking about illegal fishing, we are talking about an entire system of regulatory chaos, lack of transparency, and the complicity of some actors. It’s the faceThe other involves practices that take place behind the scenes, including fishing without a license or outside the permitted seasons, or using equipment and methods that destroy the marine environment.

 It also includes fishing cases that go unreported, as if they occur in the shadows, away from the eyes of the law, as well as those that are carried out in areas that have not been subjected to any regulation by coastal states; These practices not only bypass laws, but also rob people of their source of livelihood and strength. The danger of these practices lies in that they undermine the efforts of developing countries that rely heavily on artisanal fishing as a source of income and food, and weaken the authority of coastal states to protect their territorial waters.

The international community has tried to address this challenge through several agreements, perhaps the most prominent of which is the “Port State Measures” agreement, which entered into force on June 5, 2016; To be the first binding toolLegally in the face of illegal fishing, and coinciding with the entry into force of the Convention, this day was adopted every year as an international day to combat this phenomenon.

International Day Against Illegal Fishing

In December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 5 the International Day against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, with the aim of raising global awareness about the seriousness of this phenomenon and its negative effects on marine ecosystems, the economy, and the social well-being of communities that depend on fishing as a major source of food and income.

This day also represents an international platform for coordinating policies and legislation aimed at combating this phenomenon and promoting marine sustainability. Through cooperation and exchange of experiences, countries seek to protect marine resources and ensureIts sustainability for future generations, and this effort is considered an essential part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

How do we participate in crime without knowing it?

The fight against this phenomenon is not limited to official bodies only, but extends to include every one of us as a consumer. Without sufficient awareness, we may indirectly contribute to the continuation of this problem, when we buy marine products without checking their source. Which fuels the black market and increases pressure on the marine environment, and estimates indicate that one out of every five fish in the market may be the result of illegal fishing.

Hence the conscious consumer can make a difference; Choosing products certified by responsible organizations, asking about the source of fish in restaurants and stores, and putting pressure on decision makers to improve transparency in supply chains are all simple yet effective steps. becauseChange begins with individual behavior, and sustainability is not only created in international conferences, but in the details of our daily lives. At the same time, awareness needs innovative means, from school curricula, to social media campaigns, to collaboration with chefs and restaurants to spread a culture of responsible food.

Fishing chaos disrupts climate justice

Illegal fishing is not just an environmental or economic threat, it is also an issue of climate justice; The groups most affected by this phenomenon are artisanal fishermen in the Global South, who depend on small-scale fisheries for their livelihood; Fighting this type of illegal fishing is also a step towards achieving climate justice.

Hence, the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan confirms that preserving marine ecosystems is an essential part of achievingFood security, reducing poverty, promoting public health, and achieving gender equality, especially since there are many women working in fishing value chains; Therefore, the issue is more than just “hunting”; It is an intertwined system of rights, opportunities and threats.

While humanity faces successive crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity, there is a need to adopt a “blue transformation” approach that raises the value of a sustainable marine economy, and this is what FAO reports have called for in recent years, which indicate the need to reshape marine food production systems in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In conclusion,Earth Guards believes that protecting the seas has become a necessity to ensure a safe and sustainable future for all; Illegal fishing is not just a threat to our resourcesMarine, but it undermines our food security, affects the core of our economy, and threatens the safety of our environment. Therefore, we must preserve these resources and ensure their sustainability, for the sake of a better tomorrow for us and for future generations.