ArticlePDF Available

Estimates of illegal and unreported fish in seafood imports to the USA

Authors:
  • IUU Risk Intelligence
  • Sustainability Incubator

Abstract and Figures

Illegal and unreported catches represented 20–32% by weight of wild-caught seafood imported to the USA in 2011, as determined from robust estimates, including uncertainty, of illegal and unreported fishing activities in the source countries. These illegal imports are valued at between 1.3and1.3 and 2.1 billion, out of a total of $16.5 billion for the 2.3 million tonnes of edible seafood imports, including farmed products. This trade represents between 4% and 16% of the value of the global illegal fish catch and reveals the unintentional role of the USA, one of the largest seafood markets in the world, in funding the profits of illegal fishing. Supply chain case studies are presented for tuna, wild shrimp and Chinese re-processed Russian pollock, salmon and crab imported to the USA. To address this critical issue of unintended financing of illegal fishing, possible remedies from industry practices and government policies may include improved chain of custody and traceability controls and an amendment to the USA Lacey Act.
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
... As all fish-based food, traceability is fundamental in reassuring consumers about the safety and the quality against the risk of consuming contaminated or stale products (Fung et al., 2018;Rodriguez-Salvador & Dopico, 2020), but it may also be a cue for traditional quality and link with the territory (Foley & Havice, 2016). Seafood is believed to have the highest level of mislabelling (Khaksar et al., 2015;Pappalardo et al., 2021;Pramod et al., 2014) and misdescription that ranges from 31.8% in Northern Italy to 40% in Southern and Central Italy (Pappalardo et al., 2021). This caused an important decline in consumer trust and confidence towards the entire category of marine products (Saidi et al., 2023;. ...
... Previous studies have already demonstrated that traceability may raise consumers' perceptions on sushi (Rodriguez-Salvador & Dopico, 2020;van Rijswijk et al., 2008), and this is more important in the light of the many food scandals that continuously harm sushi reputation,both in restaurants and grocery stores (Khaksar et al., 2015;Lowenstein et al., 2010;Miller et al., 2012, pp. 345-358;Pappalardo et al., 2021;Pramod et al., 2014). The prevention of health risks and reinforcing fish traceability is on the agenda of EU which normed the provision of information regarding the supply chain and the punishment for illegal fishing (AlTal, 2012;EUMOFA, 2020). ...
... Transshipment behavior on the high seas is relatively common, with vessels responsible for 40% of the high seas fishery having had at least one encounter with a transshipment vessel during this time period [4]. States processed by China [9]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction. The fishery complex is an important part of the Russian Federation’s economy, especially for coastal regions. The problem of unreported and unregulated fishing activities is relevant for Russia and a key challenge the sustainable management of fishery resources faces. The article aims: to analyze measures for the sustainable management of fishery resources in Russia under conditions of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (Hereinafter – IUU). Materials and methods. The materials of the study were the periodicals data on the fishery complex development trends both in Russia and worldwide. The materials of statistical reporting of the Russian Federation were also used. Results. The fishery complex development strategy of the Russian Federation up to 2030 is a tool to achieve sustainable management of the country’s fish resources. Sustainable development of the fishery complex requires research activities aimed to comprehensive study aquatic bioresources in order to organize their rational sustainable use. Conclusion. The prospects for the fishery complex development in Russia are quite promising, given the vast water resources of the country and the growing demand for fish and seafood both in domestic and foreign markets.
... The rush to more powerful and more expensive technologies helped to trace resources further down [24], when coastal resources reached or exceeded the limits of their productive capacity. This is often accompanied by dubious or criminal practices [25], suggesting that 20 to 32% of seafood imports into the US have been illegitimate [26]. As the biggest market for fish and seafood imports, the EU is equally prone to imports from such illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries. ...
Article
Full-text available
According to EuroStat data, the recorded landings of fisheries products from European waters were estimated at about 6 million tons in 2001, down to 3.2 million tons in 2022. This gradual decline slowed after the entering into force of the reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at the end of 2013, but was followed by a steeper decline after 2018. This is reflected in the last assessment of the Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STEPF), noting that despite progress in the NE Atlantic management, 41% of the assessed stocks in 2022 were outside safe biological limits, down from 80% in 2003. Improvements in the Mediterranean are significantly slower. A warming ocean provokes the measurable poleward migration of species and adds stress to predator–prey relations in all European seas. Within this general picture, the broad-brush landscape is influenced by policy applications more in favour of industrial exploitation and regulatory and market environments, making it very hard for many small-scale fishers (SSFs) to remain in business, let alone attract younger successors for generational transition. In crowded marine spaces, it is a challenge to allocate access rights fairly between fisheries, exclusion zones for resource and habitat protection and much-needed ecosystem recovery, platforms for fossil exploitation, wind farms, underwater cables and recreational uses. Two examples of local initiatives with faunal recovery potential in the Mediterranean are briefly presented as a bottom-up complement to more top-down management approaches. They are spearheaded by artisanal fishers, who seek to restore spawning grounds and other coastal habitats as a way to procure enough fish and other complementary activities to secure their livelihoods in the future. They are supported by local scientists and nature conservation organisations. While promising, this is still rather the exception. Here, it is argued that trust-building between artisanal fishers, conservationists and scientists, and greater systemic support to SSFs by governments, increase chances for the urgently needed structural shifts that deliver the reversal in the ongoing decline in biodiversity and ocean productivity that all aspire to, to ensure sustained social and economic benefits.
... They exploit these situations to pressure vulnerable fishing communities into participating in the drug trade (Mistler-Ferguson, 2021). It is worth mentioning that up to 30 percent of the imported seafood market in the US is sourced from "pirate fishing" or illegal operations (Pramod et al., 2014;Jenkinson, 2022). ...
Article
Full-text available
Ensuring the sustainability of seafood is increasingly important for supporting food security and stable livelihoods in the face of a growing human population. A country’s seafood sustainability is often defined by how it manages its fisheries stocks; however, growth in the volume and complexity of global seafood trade has created an increasing disconnect between the sustainability of a country’s seafood production and their seafood consumption. Using a global seafood trade database, we demonstrate wide differences between country-specific sustainability of produced versus consumed seafood. Our findings suggest that countries most consistently considered leaders in seafood production sustainability will inevitably consume seafood held to lower sustainability standards through their participation in the global seafood trade network. This issue is exacerbated by an inability to accurately trace the origins of seafood products based on current international trade reporting practices. Our analysis suggests that improved international seafood tracing and sustainability metrics that account for both production and consumption are critical to future efforts to manage global seafood sustainability.
Chapter
Full-text available
Around the year 1975, the rice crop yields in Maharashtra, India, started declining. Strangely, this was correlated to the introduction of frog dissection in colleges in this state. How are they linked? During this period, colleges in India introduced frog dissection for their science students. Truckloads of frogs were caught from paddy fields and sent to colleges where they were used in laboratory experiments. The frogs are carnivores and eat pests that thrive on paddy. As their populations declined, the pests went up in numbers and brought down the crop yield.
Chapter
The chapter examines India’s legislative frameworks and policies that support the conservation and sustainable use of fish genetic resources. Emphasizing the critical role of biodiversity in food security and ecosystem resilience, the present assessment details the evolution of fisheries management in India, highlighting key legislations. The chapter also discusses the importance of recent amendments and the integration of international guidelines to address emerging challenges like invasive species and habitat degradation. By providing an overview of India’s diverse aquatic ecosystems, the chapter underscores the significance of national and state-specific legislations in safeguarding fish biodiversity. Key themes include the balance between economic development and conservation goals, the role of community involvement in fisheries management, and the application of advanced technologies and interdisciplinary research in informing policy decisions. The authors also present case studies demonstrating successful legislative implementations and explore the socio-economic and ethical considerations impacting local fishing communities. The chapter concludes with recommendations for strengthening legislative frameworks, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing community participation, and investing in capacity building and technological advancements to ensure the long-term sustainability of India’s fish genetic resources. Through a holistic approach, integrating ecological, socio-economic, and institutional aspects, India can advance towards effective conservation while supporting the livelihoods of its fishing communities.
Chapter
The dynamic frontier at the confluence of industrial innovation and the blue bioeconomy holds significant implications for both worldwide environmental sustainability and economic growth. The marine-based business known as the “blue bioeconomy,” which includes shipping, biotechnology, renewable energy, fisheries, and aquaculture, presents enormous opportunities for innovation-driven economic growth. With the development of new technologies, enhanced resource management techniques, and creative problem-solving, industrial innovation is essential to the sustainability, productivity, and resilience of blue bioeconomy sectors. Precision fishing methods that reduce overfishing and bycatch, environmentally friendly aquaculture systems, renewable energy technologies that utilize ocean resources, and biotechnological uses of marine organisms are important areas of industrial innovation. Artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and remote sensing are examples of digital technologies that are enhancing the blue bioeconomy’s sustainability and efficiency. The topic at hand highlights the transformative power of innovation in promoting sustainable and inclusive development, job growth, and environmental stewardship in coastal regions and beyond. For the sake of current and future generations, policymakers, companies, researchers, and communities must work together to fully realize the potential of the blue bioeconomy and industrial innovation.
Article
Full-text available
The effect of the artisanal shrimp fishery on the fauna in the coastal lagoon of Santa Maria la Reforma, Mexico, was assessed. Twenty-nine stations were sampled monthly for shrimp and fin fish during six months, from December 2001 to May 2002, using small boats fitted with outboard engines and the three fishing gears employed by shrimp fishermen in the area: small shrimp trawl net, gillnet, and suripera net. Each sampling period lasted five days. In total, 11,368 individuals were caught, comprising 173 fish species. The species best represented in terms of number and biomass included the commercially important species Eucinostomus entomelas, Sphoeroides annulatus, Urotrygon chilensis, and Diapterus peruvianus. The highest abundance and biomass, as determined by boostrapping of the lognormal-based estimator, were caught with the shrimp trawl net. The mean total length of the fish captured was 17.4 cm for the gillnet, 15.8 cm for the shrimp trawl net, and 13.4 cm for the suripera net. The fishing gear that had a greater impact on the fish fauna were the shrimp trawl net and the gillnet, because they caught the greatest number of fish, biomass and diversity, and a large quantity of small individuals. These two fishing gears caught fish fauna from both the bottom and the water column, and showed the lowest fish/shrimp ratio in kilograms. The shrimp trawl net caught a 6:1 ratio, the gillnet a 15:1 ratio, and the suripera net a 1:1 ratio.
Article
Full-text available
This article describes international collaborative efforts aimed at improving the global capacity to address fisheries crime, with a particular focus on the International Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (IMCS) network and INTERPOL activities. These 2 initiatives have emerged as a response to existing governance deficits and, combined, substantially improve the prospects for addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing (FAO 2001) and associated crimes. I describe the development of these initiatives and provide some reflection on their challenges and opportunities. I use the term fisheries crime to include illegal fishing and associated crimes, although the efforts described here improve the prospects for addressing all aspects of IUU fishing activities, some of which may not constitute legal violations (FAO 2001).
Book
Full-text available
As major stakeholders in the global tuna industry, it is critical that Pacific Island countries (PICs) have a comprehensive understanding of supply chain dynamics. An enhanced understanding of how industry drivers and market dynamics shape the global tuna supply chain and influence the major industry players is particularly critical to PICs in achieving stronger control and deriving greater economic benefits from their tuna resources. Over a series of ten chapters, this report provides an overview of the current status of the global tuna industry in terms of major tuna fishing fleets, tuna trading companies, processing sites and principal markets. It is intended to serve as a platform in the development of a systematic approach to improving the ongoing provision of accurate and useful global tuna industry and market information to Pacific Island countries
Chapter
This article has no abstract.