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Marine and Freshwater
Environmental Governance

Definition(s)

'Illegal fishing' means fishing activities: (a) conducted by national or foreign fishing vessels in maritime waters under the jurisdiction of a State, without the permission of that State, or in contravention of its laws and regulations; (b) conducted by fishing vessels flying the flag of States that are contracting parties to a relevant regional fisheries management organisation, but which operate in contravention of the conservation and management measures adopted by that organisation and by which those States are bound, or of relevant provisions of the applicable international law; or (c) conducted by fishing vessels in violation of national laws or international obligations, including those undertaken by cooperating States to a relevant regional fisheries management organisation. (Source: EU)

'Unregulated fishing' means fishing activities: (a) conducted in the area of application of a relevant regional fisheries management organisation by fishing vessels without nationality, by fishing vessels flying the flag of a State not party to that organisation or by any other fishing entity, in a manner that is not consistent with or contravenes the conservation and management measures of that organisation; or(b) conducted in areas or for fish stocks in relation to which there are no applicable conservation or management measures by fishing vessels in a manner that is not consistent with State responsibilities for the conservation of living marine resources under international law. (Source: EU)

'Unreported fishing' means fishing activities: (a) which have not been reported, or have been misreported, to the relevant national authority, in contravention of national laws and regulations; or (b) which have been undertaken in the area of competence of a relevant regional fisheries management organisation and have not been reported, or have been misreported, in contravention of the reporting procedures of that organisation. (Source: EU)

In other languages

French
pêche illicite
Russian
незаконный рыбный промысел
Spanish
pesca ilegal
Arabic
صيد غير قانوني

Explore content

Follow up the links below to see InforMEA content related to Illegal fishing coming up from several external sources.

Multilateral environment agreements tagged with Illegal fishing

You can see below a list of multilateral environment agreements. Use the links on the right to view the content tagged with Illegal fishing. This includes official treaty texts, decisions, recommendations, and other related informational documents such as publications, annuals, meetings, documents or reports.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Convention on Migratory Species
World Heritage Convention

Multimedia

Video - Port State Measures to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Criminal Activities