Small island developing states and illegal fishing

This chapter explores challenges of illegal fishing relating to small island developing states (SIDS). The international community has made active steps forward to close the gap on illegal fishing globally; however, there remains a mismatch between the applications, particularly relating to SIDS. While acknowledging each region’s uniqueness, there are commonalities among the SIDS in the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions, and potential approaches that can be applied collectively in seeking to achieve harmonized responses to illegal fishing. Noting that tolerance for illegal fishing can be a precursor for other syndicated criminal threats, there is therefore an impetus to address illegal fishing. This chapter first considers the vulnerabilities to illegal fishing. It then reviews the existing international “lawscape” in response to illegal fishing. Finally, it suggests that illegal fishing should be viewed through a solution-focused lens, shifting the policy and law focus to that of seafood fraud in Global North destination states where much of the seafood is exported to. By pivoting the focus, the pressure may be lifted from SIDS, and instead to the policy- and lawmakers in Global North destination states, collectively progressing toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 Life Below Water agenda more efficiently and effectively.