In Earthjustices legal work to protect the ocean, one of the most pernicious problems we face around the globe is widespread illegal fishing practices that deplete species and upset marine biodiversity.
Its not an easy thing to measure, but we do have one key indicator the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a report to Congress every two years about international fisheries management. In that report, NOAA identifies countries where fishing fleets use illegal or unregulated practices. Once a country gets an official listing in the report, NOAA engages with that nation to fix the problem. If the nation fails to change practices, the United States can negatively certify that country and impose various penalties. The NOAA report is both a tool to shine light on unsustainable fishing behavior and the first step in a process to hold bad actors accountable.
Although illegal or unregulated fishing accounts for 1530% of annual global catch, in previous reports, NOAA identified only three to 10 nations engaging in illegal fishing a drop in the ocean. In the recently released 2021 report, NOAA started to swim in the right direction, improving the agencys approach to how it determines whether a nation gets listed and also expanding the number of nations listed as having illegal or unregulated fishing practices to 31.
The biennial reports are a key component of the U.S. regulatory scheme to combat illegal fishing and protect U.S. fishers and consumers. In the reports, NOAA is required to list countries for three types of fishing behavior: violating international fishery conservation measures, incidental catch (called bycatch) of protected species, and shark catch on the high seas.
Of the 31 nations listed in NOAAs 2021 report, seven were listed for violating international fishery conservation measures and 29 were listed for protected species bycatch. For only the second time since it began reporting to Congress in 2009, NOAA negatively certified a country Mexico for allowing Mexican fishermen to illegally fish red snapper in U.S. waters. This means that the U.S. may impose penalties on Mexico for not effectively addressing these illegal fishing practices.
Illegal fishing: NOAA listed seven countries that were engaged in illegal fishing. In the 2021 report, NOAA took the step of relying on evidence provided by non-government organizations monitoring the problem and collecting testimony from fishermen, fisheries observers, and undercover investigators. In some cases, these brave individuals put their lives at risk to provide this evidence in hope of stopping the forced labor and fishing practices that violate human rights and can devastate our marine ecosystems. By taking into account evidence from these sources, NOAA is expanding its on-the-ground capacities to identify and stop illegal fishing.
Bycatch of Protected Species: In the 2021 report, NOAA listed 29 countries with fishing fleets that catch sea turtles as bycatch in the Atlantic Ocean and lack a regulatory scheme with protections comparable to those required by the U.S. Until now, NOAA had identified only one nation that was harming sea turtles by snagging them as bycatch when fishing fleets were targeting other species and that was back in 2015. NOAAs previous neglect of the bycatch issue meant that nations were not being held accountable, and marine biodiversity was at risk. With the 2021 report, NOAA took a large step towards fixing this oversight. However, there are other protected species, such as sharks, at risk from fishing practices.
Shark Catch:Unfortunately, in its 2021 report, NOAA still failed to list a single country for catching sharks on the high seas, even though it is clearly happening. Illegal and unregulated shark catching is a significant problem that NOAA is supposed to address in these reports under the law. Sharks are a major victim of the biodiversity crisis: Over a third of shark species are at risk of extinction, with some species declining by more than 99% over the past half century. Sharks are also one of the biggest victims of illegal and unregulated fishing, often targeted for their fins and tangled up as bycatch. NOAAs continued neglect of this avenue to list countries and address the problem means that nations are still catching sharks on the high seas with impunity. Until regulators can get a handle on illegal shark catching, marine ecosystems are at risk.
Sharks are apex species, which means many other marine creatures depend on them in the finely tuned oceans ecosystems. At Earthjustice, working to protect this marine biodiversity is at the core of our legal work. You can join us in the effort.
First, theres a bill in Congress worth keeping an eye on called the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act. It targets human rights abuses and illegal fishing practices in the seafood supply chain.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressmen Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, and Garret Graves, a Louisiana Republican. The legislation would expand NOAAs authority to identify nations whose fleets engage in illegal or unregulated fishing practices, and it would strengthen NOAAs capacity to enforce penalties if a nation fails to improve, once identified. The legislation also specifically strengthens legal provisions that require NOAA to list nations that are fishing sharks on the high seas, a change that will help close a gap in the way the agency implements the law. Given the growing threat of illegal fishing, the abundant evidence of where it is occurring, and the bipartisan support for swift Congressional action, we urge members to pass the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act this year without further delay.
Second, if you eat seafood, make sure it is sustainable and traceable. You can do this by looking for a label or certification that indicates the seafood is sustainably caught. There are also seafood guides available that can help you make responsible decisions on which seafood to choose.
Read the original here:
- High Seas Forecast (Tropical Atlantic) - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- U.S. High Seas Marine Text Forecasts by Area - December 10th, 2016 [December 10th, 2016]
- Global High Seas Marine Preserve A non-profit dedicted ... - February 2nd, 2017 [February 2nd, 2017]
- New centre for high seas visitors in Angus - The Courier - The Courier - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Naval Presence on High Seas Underscored - Financial Tribune - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Pirates Face Push Back On The High Seas - American Media Institute - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Queen Mary 2 to Host High Fashion on the High Seas - Cruise Hive - Cruise Hive - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Nigeria Rescues Oil Tanker From High-Seas Pirates - OilPrice.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Cabin cam shows the hilarious frustration of rolling on the high seas - Pickle - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Ransomware Gangs Have Become the High-Seas Pirates of the Internet - On the Wire (blog) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Suspect in high-seas homicides hospitalized, putting case on hold - Sacramento Bee - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Gargrave Pantomime Group hit the high seas with Sinbad the Sailor - Craven Herald - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Sailing the high seas: Top cruises for first-timers, families and excursions in 2017 - Malay Mail Online - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- The Cold War returns to the high seas (opinion) - CNN.com - CNN - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- All aboard for Cosplay on the high seas, Latest Travel News - The ... - The New Paper - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- The Cold War returns to the high seas - CNN International - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Star-Studded Broadway on the High Seas 8 Sets Sail Feb. 17 - Playbill.com - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- 'The internet is like the high seas' - Deutsche Welle - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Sailing the high seas - Fiji Times - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- In Dramatic High Seas Rescue, Four Fishermen Rescued By Good Samaritans Off Galveston, Texas, Coast - Patch.com - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Greg McQuade discovers life on the high seas aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - wtvr.com - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Escape to the high seas at the National Aviary - NEXTpittsburgh - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Ocean Prediction Center-Coastal, Offshore and High Seas ... - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Lagerstein hitting the high seas for Rum City - Bundaberg News Mail - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Scapa Flow German High Seas Fleet scrap sites explored - The ... - The Orcadian - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Two boats towed in harbor in high seas - Cayman Compass - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Take to the high seas with Condor Sailing Adventures - Pensacola News Journal - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Aging high-seas murder suspect out of hospital and back in court - Sacramento Bee - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Masters of the waves talk of high seas, thrills & spills - The New Indian Express - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Campbell River Sea Cadet off to England to hit the high seas - Campbell River Mirror - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Survival on the high seas (From The Northern Echo) - The Northern Echo (registration) - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Industry 4.0 on the High Seas - MarineLink - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- New Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer Brings Us More Action On The High Seas! - LRM Online (press release) (blog) - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Eco-warriors meet government authority on Ballina's high seas - Echonetdaily - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Tech on the high seas: Fred Olsen IT chief chats cloud, connectivity and security - www.v3.co.uk - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Why newbie Drusilla is preparing for life on the high seas - The Wharf - The Wharf - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Bhang Travel Inc. Brings Cannabis Networking to the High Seas - PR Web (press release) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Drama on the high seas: East Kilbride couple reveal dramatic rescue after boat sinks in Gulf - Scottish Daily Record - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Journey through the high seas - The Standard - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- French, Irish yacht sailors survive high seas off Australia's coast - TRT World - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- 3 Digital Marketing Lessons From a Lawyer Focused on the High Seas - Entrepreneur - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Captain Cannonball sails the high seas as a pirate - Destin.com - Destin Log and Walton Log - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- No clean boats on the high seas | Kochi News - Times of India - Times of India - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Trekr Racing makes its debut on the high seas - Washington Blade - Washington Blade - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Real 'Pirate Women' On The High Seas Of Old | On Point - WBUR - WBUR - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Cruise Operators Continue to Hide Behind the Death on the High ... - Cruise Law News - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Cruise ship crime: Who's in charge of law and order on the high seas? - Star2.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Footprints: PERIL ON THE HIGH SEAS - DAWN.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- You can gamble on the high seas out of Galveston, but it might not always be smooth sailing - Rare.us - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- An Energy Shock from the High Seas - Wall Street Journal (subscription) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Navy dispatched 52 flotillas to high seas in 8 years - Mehr News Agency - English Version - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Barker and Team Japan ruling the high seas - Royal Gazette - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Hitting The High Seas: US LNG Finds A Home - Seeking Alpha - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- A U-Boat Strikes and Terror Follows on the High Seas - New York Times - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- HOPE LARSON and REBECCA MOCK Hit the High Seas with KNIFE'S EDGE - Newsarama - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Geopolitics On The High Seas And In Today's Headlines | On Point - WBUR - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- World Oceans Day Comes at a Critical Time for High Seas - Natural Resources Defense Council - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- High seas force Durban beaches closure | Berea Mail - Berea Mail - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- African states band together to defeat crime on high seas | News24 - News24 - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Handmade boat for the high seas - New Straits Times Online - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- High Seas, High "C"s: "The Little Mermaid," at the Prospect Park Auditorium through June 18 - River Cities Reader - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- 'Skull & Bones' takes open world online gaming to the high seas - Engadget - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- The Electric, Driverless Revolution Is About to Hit the High Seas ... - Bloomberg - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Brazil Gets Ready to Fight on the High Seas and Sets Aside US$ 1.8 Bi for New Warships - Brazzil.com - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Skull and Bones is pure high seas sailing fun from Ubisoft - Critical Hit - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Disney PhotoPass coming to capture your high-seas adventure on Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom - Inside the Magic - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Coast Guard unloads 18 tons of cocaine seized on the high seas - The San Diego Union-Tribune - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- High seas inspire collection - Royal Gazette - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- High Yields on the High Seas | Equities.com - Equities.com - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Spectacle on the high seas: The best boat races in the Caribbean - USA TODAY - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Taking the Fight to the High Seas with the Dutch Royal Navy - MMORPG.com (press release) (registration) (blog) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Big waves close coastal walkway, but some still brave stormy seas - Taranaki Daily News - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Seniors make waves with high-seas whodunit - Simi Valley Acorn - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- High seas adventures at the Hannibal Aquatic Center - Hannibal.net - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Come See the Value Opportunities I Saw on the High Seas - TheStreet.com - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- High seas adventures at the Hannibal Aquatic Center - Columbia Daily Tribune - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Slovenia wins battle with Croatia over high seas access - BBC News - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Arbitration panel grants Slovenia access to high seas - Fox News - July 2nd, 2017 [July 2nd, 2017]
- High Seas Governance Must Take Account of Existing IMO Framework - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- An app to track missing people on high seas - Times of India - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]