An odd loophole in this agreement though, seems to be that countries do not have to apply any new rules to their own fishing fleet. Another point is that blacklisted fishing vessels are already technically banned from entering ports, but many countries simply lack enforcement ability, so somebody or somebodies from outside are going to have to step up there as well, if this is going to mean anything -
"For some countries, this represents a major loss of income ... and is having a direct impact on the development of these countries," Flothmann said.
"In Somalia, a country which is totally incapable of enforcing anything in its waters, coastal fisheries have been devastated, turning fishermen into recruits for pirate gangs."
There's one idea for effective Food Aid to Africa - focus on recovery efforts and providing security for their fisheries. But that's too simple a solution with not much room for corporate profit, isn't it? Sierra Leone alone is estimated to lose 100 million dollars a year due to illegal fishing.
The article above also goes on to mention that many countries don't care where their seafood comes from, and that a concerted global approach to enforcement is ultimately what is necessary.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing causes serious environmental problems, threatens many vulnerable species, and is a main impediment to maintaining sustainable fisheries worldwide. Some estimate the industry to be worth $4 - $9 billion annually, although that's simply an educated guess since pirates don't exactly report income from their catch on IRS forms.
Just this weekend, the US Coast Guard intercepted a Taiwanese vessel near Guam suspected of illegally fishing for shark and tuna. |
