What does overfishing mean for the ocean? (Secondary) - Lesson Three
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Lesson 3 – Why does illegal fishing occur?
This lesson explores the issue of illegal fishing and the activities conducted to hide these operations.
Learning activities:
Research transhipping and create checklists for inspecting fishing vessels.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
The growing demand for fish supports the illegal fishing trade. IUU fishing activity has a big impact on the ocean ecosystem.
Let’s look at what IUU fishing means.
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch. In basic terms they are stealing from these waters.¬
Unreported means that a fishing vessel may have a license with an allocated quota for fishing a particular species, such as tuna, but then catches more than their set quota and they fail to report this extra catch.
When vessels are inspected, the information recorded in the fishing logbooks is compared with what is stored in the fish holds of the vessel to determine if the catch has been reported correctly.
Unregulated refers to areas in the ocean where there may not be quota or any regulations in place, either in that location or for the type of species.
There are areas of the ocean that are not subject to any regulation, generally because they are not controlled by a particular country or are not part of any regulated zone. Fishing vessels can head to these areas knowing no one is likely to be patrolling or monitoring fishing activity.
Regulating the fishing industry is a huge task, given the size of the oceans and the scale of commercial fishing operations. There are thousands of illegal fishing vessels out at sea at any given moment.
Let’s look at what IUU fishing means.
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch. In basic terms they are stealing from these waters.¬
Unreported means that a fishing vessel may have a license with an allocated quota for fishing a particular species, such as tuna, but then catches more than their set quota and they fail to report this extra catch.
When vessels are inspected, the information recorded in the fishing logbooks is compared with what is stored in the fish holds of the vessel to determine if the catch has been reported correctly.
Unregulated refers to areas in the ocean where there may not be quota or any regulations in place, either in that location or for the type of species.
There are areas of the ocean that are not subject to any regulation, generally because they are not controlled by a particular country or are not part of any regulated zone. Fishing vessels can head to these areas knowing no one is likely to be patrolling or monitoring fishing activity.
Regulating the fishing industry is a huge task, given the size of the oceans and the scale of commercial fishing operations. There are thousands of illegal fishing vessels out at sea at any given moment.
Slide 4 - Slide
Demand for fish is high and markets are willing to pay a premium for endangered species. This stimulates illegal activity, particularly when the legal trade in these species is restricted.
“Can you think of any other reasons why IUU activities take place?”
“Can you think of any other reasons why IUU activities take place?”
What circumstances
enable illegal fishing
to take place?
enable illegal fishing
to take place?
Slide 5 - Mind map
Ask students “Which circumstances do you think enable or stimulate illegal fishing?”
Slide 6 - Slide
Not all countries are able to monitor their territorial waters or EEZ simply because they don’t have the vessels to patrol and monitor fishing activity.
The size of these areas also makes it difficult for smaller nations to cover all of their waters effectively. Illegal vessels will raid waters, waiting just outside the area until it is clear of any patrol vessels.
Licensed vessels knowing they may not be inspected, will risk taking more than their fishing quota allows or take other species.
The size of these areas also makes it difficult for smaller nations to cover all of their waters effectively. Illegal vessels will raid waters, waiting just outside the area until it is clear of any patrol vessels.
Licensed vessels knowing they may not be inspected, will risk taking more than their fishing quota allows or take other species.
Slide 7 - Slide
Fish species migrate through international waters – not all of these areas are subject to the same regulations. Fishing vessels take advantage of this situation.
Slide 8 - Slide
Some of the illegal fleets belong to operators who have fishing vessels operating within the law, but then also have ghost fleets operating illegally. They may carry out a number of illegal activities in addition to illegal fishing.
Slide 9 - Slide
Illegal vessels are often found carrying out several activities, making it hard for law enforcement to prosecute them. These activities comprise:
False logbooks
False logbooks
Fishing vessels are required to record their catch in a logbook. Illegal operators often keep two sets of logbooks, one that shows the legal fishing catch, where they have a license to fish, and a second set which is a true record of their catch. The second logbook will be kept hidden in case of inspection by law enforcement authorities.
Hiding vessel ownership
To hide the true owners of a ship, operators use holding companies. These are unlisted companies created to own an asset, such as a ship.
Hiding the owners of the company reduces the ability of law enforcement to prosecute them for illegal activities.
To hide the true owners of a ship, operators use holding companies. These are unlisted companies created to own an asset, such as a ship.
Hiding the owners of the company reduces the ability of law enforcement to prosecute them for illegal activities.
Changing names
Illegal vessels, particularly those that have previously been caught operating illegally, will use fake names and documentation.
Regularly changing a ship’s name makes it difficult to track a vessel that has previously been caught operating illegally.
The owners may change the ship’s name when they change it’s registration details or simply create forged documents.
Illegal vessels may also change their name when they enter port, simply by painting over the name on the side of the ship or creating new signs to hang over the official name of the vessel.
Illegal vessels, particularly those that have previously been caught operating illegally, will use fake names and documentation.
Regularly changing a ship’s name makes it difficult to track a vessel that has previously been caught operating illegally.
The owners may change the ship’s name when they change it’s registration details or simply create forged documents.
Illegal vessels may also change their name when they enter port, simply by painting over the name on the side of the ship or creating new signs to hang over the official name of the vessel.
Country of registration
All vessels must be registered with a flagstate. This is referred to as their country of registration and allows the vessel to fly the flag of that country. Their home port is located in the flagstate and the vessel must comply with the laws of that country.
Vessels which are not registered are considered to be stateless and are called ‘pirate vessels’. Pirate vessels have no flagstate protection at sea and can be boarded by anyone.
Illegal vessels will change the country of registration for several reasons. First, if they have been caught operating illegally they may have been struck from a registry. This means the country that runs the shipping registry does not want to support this illegal operator and has revoked the registration.
The second reason to change the name is that the owners are trying to hide ownership. They will look for a new country to register in. Some countries have been known to run registries that do not have strict control in place to properly identify vessels or ownership, making it easy for illegal operators to register a vessel.
All vessels must be registered with a flagstate. This is referred to as their country of registration and allows the vessel to fly the flag of that country. Their home port is located in the flagstate and the vessel must comply with the laws of that country.
Vessels which are not registered are considered to be stateless and are called ‘pirate vessels’. Pirate vessels have no flagstate protection at sea and can be boarded by anyone.
Illegal vessels will change the country of registration for several reasons. First, if they have been caught operating illegally they may have been struck from a registry. This means the country that runs the shipping registry does not want to support this illegal operator and has revoked the registration.
The second reason to change the name is that the owners are trying to hide ownership. They will look for a new country to register in. Some countries have been known to run registries that do not have strict control in place to properly identify vessels or ownership, making it easy for illegal operators to register a vessel.
Slide 10 - Slide
Transhipment
Illegal operators use a number of methods to try and hide the origin of their catch and avoid detection by law enforcement authorities as they move between countries.
One way to hide the source of the fish is by using transhipment. Transhipping vessels will receive fishing catches from a number of vessels before heading to port to offload. This provides an opportunity to hide the source of the catch, as fishing catches are combined. Illegal fleets can use transhipping vessels to take their combined catch back to their country of origin or to a pre-arranged market.
Transhipping vessels are also used to provide supplies and transfer crew to fishing vessels. so that these fishing vessels can stay at sea for long periods of time without having to visit port.
Illegal operators use a number of methods to try and hide the origin of their catch and avoid detection by law enforcement authorities as they move between countries.
One way to hide the source of the fish is by using transhipment. Transhipping vessels will receive fishing catches from a number of vessels before heading to port to offload. This provides an opportunity to hide the source of the catch, as fishing catches are combined. Illegal fleets can use transhipping vessels to take their combined catch back to their country of origin or to a pre-arranged market.
Transhipping vessels are also used to provide supplies and transfer crew to fishing vessels. so that these fishing vessels can stay at sea for long periods of time without having to visit port.
Slide 11 - Video
This video (4.40min) from Sea Shepherd’s campaign in Gambian explains some of the issues with illegal vessels and patrolling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP3oXb7um1Q&list=PLx1pnhQVtbbBsKCxtgLSHH5hkrDo6c1kH&index=15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP3oXb7um1Q&list=PLx1pnhQVtbbBsKCxtgLSHH5hkrDo6c1kH&index=15
Slide 12 - Slide
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Slide 13 - Slide
Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.
