Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a serious global problem. Recent reports put the worldwide value of IUU catches at between $4bn and $9bn per year, including at least $1bn/yr for sub-Saharan Africa. IUU fishing does not respect national boundaries. It puts unsustainable pressure on fish stocks, marine wildlife and habitats, undermines labour standards and distorts markets. It imposes significant economic costs on some of the poorest countries in the world and undermines the governance structures. There are enormous societal pressures linked to these economic costs. Everyone is affected by IUU fishing, even if they don’t realise it. IUU fishing has proved stubbornly resistant to a number of recent international attempts to control it. On paper these international initiatives should easily be able to eliminate IUU fishing. But one of the key difficulties has been to gather the necessary political leadership needed to carry internationally agreed targets and declarations into effect. In 2003 a small group of fisheries Ministers and directors-general of international conservation organisations established the High Seas Task Force, with the aim of providing additional impetus to existing initiatives.

Projects

• Address the needs of developing countries
• Establish a global information system on high seas fishing vessels
• Fill critical gaps in scientific knowledge and assessment
• Promote better high seas governance
• Strengthen the International MCS Network
• Support greater use of port and trade measures