Impacts of IUU Fishing

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4.0 ILLEGAL FISHING AND EFFECTS ON SOMALIA

Somalia can deter illegal fishing by following actions taken by FAO and its partners to combat illegal fishing. One is to promote adherence to the 2009 FAO Port State Measures Agreement and the 2014 FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Flag State Performance FAO 2014. Many nations are also working with the International Maritime Organization IMO to develop a Global Record of Fishing Vessels that is currently considered crucial to Somalia.

4.1 Impacts of IUU Fishing

The most tangible economic impact of IUU fishing on Somalia is the direct loss of the value of fish catches that could benefit the nation if stopped. In addition to the loss of national income from fish lost to IUU, illegal fishing causes losses of employment in fishing and post-harvest fish handling, landing fees, license fees, taxes and other revenues payable by legal fishing companies. The indirect harm of IUU fishing to Somalia also includes a loss of income and employment in other sectors and activities in the supply chain upstream fishing gear, boats and equipment, etc. and downstream fish processing and packaging, marketing and transport, etc. from the fishing operation itself MRAG, 2005. As IUU fishing vessels are constantly fearful of being spotted, they exploit resources irresponsibly. They have unsustainable impacts on both target species and the marine ecosystem and vulnerable species such as coral reefs, dugongs and turtles, whose catches are mitigated by regulations on legitimate fishing practices. This negatively affects ocean productivity, biodiversity and the ecosystems resilience, leading to a reduction in food security for artisanal fishermen and to future catches. In addition to its national economic impacts, IUU also affects fishermens livelihoods. IUU fishing causes conflict with Somalia’s artisanal fishermen. Fishermen and fisherwomen reported this to the Consultants during meetings in the fishing villages and in survey responses during interviews. Many fishermen find their fishing nets destroyed by illegal fishing vessels and are threatened by IUU fishing vessels as being mistaken as pirates 20 . Under normal circumstances, when industrial fishing vessels destroy artisan fishermen nets, they willingly compensate for the loss of these nets to avoid conflicts, but illegal fishing vessels cannot be held responsible as they never come to port. “The current overcapacity of the world fishing fleet, both in terms of numbers of vessels and technological power, created largely through subsidies to the fishing sector in developed countries, has contributed to the problem of illegal fishing” MRAG, 2005. When local coastal waters are overfished, overcapitalized fleets often turn their attention to illegal fishing in waters of coastal states like Somalia that are unable to patrol and enforce fisheries regulations or bans on foreign fleets fishing.

4.2 Lost Value to IUU Fishing