Knowra Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is fishing that violates applicable rules, goes unreported or misreported, or occurs where effective fisheries management is absent.
Flag of convenience : A vessel registry chosen for its regulatory, financial, or administrative advantages, often in a country other than the owner's. Vessels using weakly enforced registries can be harder to monitor and hold accountable.
Overfishing : The removal of fish from a population faster than it can replenish itself. Uncontrolled catches can intensify fishing pressure beyond sustainable levels.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea : The 1982 international treaty establishing a legal framework for ocean use, maritime zones, and state rights and duties. Its maritime jurisdiction framework shapes which states can regulate and enforce fishing rules.
Illegal fishing : Fishing conducted in violation of applicable national, regional, or international conservation and management measures. This is the rule-breaking component of the broader three-part category.
Transshipment : The transfer of catch or cargo from one vessel to another at sea or in port. At-sea transfers can obscure catch origins and complicate inspections.
Bycatch : Organisms caught unintentionally while fishing for other species. Unauthorized or poorly monitored fishing can increase unrecorded harm to non-target species.
United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement : A 1995 treaty implementing the Law of the Sea Convention for straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. It strengthens cooperation and enforcement for fish stocks crossing national maritime zones.
Unreported fishing : Fishing catches or activities that are not reported, or are misreported, to relevant authorities in violation of reporting requirements. This component concerns concealed or inaccurate records, whether or not the fishing itself was authorized.
Catch documentation scheme : A system that traces fish through trade using documents recording where and how they were caught. Traceability documents help authorities distinguish authorized catches from illicit ones.
Marine protected area : A geographically defined marine area managed to conserve nature and associated cultural or ecological values. Fishing within no-take or restricted zones undermines conservation protections.
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