United States Coast Guard: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Strategic Outlook Implementation Plan
Date of Publication
2020 12:00 AM
Security Theme
IUU Fishing
Keywords
IUU Fishing, illegal fishing, IUU fishing, global food security, illegal activities, coastal state destabilization
Description
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a pervasive security threat to U.S. national interests. By undermining international agreements and fisheries conservation measures, IUU fishing jeopardizes global food security, with pronounced destabilizing effects on vulnerable coastal States. IUU fishing robs legal fishers of their livelihoods, endangering the economic security of all nations with a maritime boundary. Industrial scale fishing vessels deployed by irresponsible and aggressive flag States can increase geo‐political tensions, undermining the rights of nations to exercise their sovereignty and benefit from their economic . A lack of accountability by these flag States to enforce responsible maritime behavior on their fleets further enables illegal fishing actors to violate international rules-based order and opens the door to transnational criminal organizations to use profits from IUU fishing to monetize a suite of other illegal activities. It is the responsibility of all nations to deter IUU fishing activity within their capacity and capability, particularly vessels under their own flag. The U.S. Coast Guard has always sought to ensure safety, security, and stewardship at sea. Under this IUU Fishing Strategic Outlook, the U.S. Coast Guard will apply our broad authorities, capabilities, capacities, and partnerships to be a global leader in the fight against IUU fishing. Working with partners in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Coast Guard will uphold a whole-of-government effort to advance national interests in the maritime domain and promote economic prosperity. Through enhanced engagement with like-minded nations and key maritime stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard is ready to spearhead the global fight against IUU fishing. We will do so by pursuing the following Lines of Effort: Promote Targeted, Effective, Intelligence-Driven Enforcement Operations. The U.S. Coast Guard will lead global efforts to detect and deter IUU fishing on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of partner nations. Through the innovative use of intelligence, technology, data analysis, and information sharing, we will identify, target, and interdict illicit actors in the maritime domain in order to disrupt corrupt cycles of influence that enable illegal operations. Counter Predatory and Irresponsible State Behavior. The U.S. Coast Guard will prioritize operations and engagement in areas where our efforts are most critical to demonstrate U.S. commitment and model responsible behavior. The U.S. Coast Guard will shine a light on the activities of those who violate international rules-based order, exposing and holding accountable the most egregious predatory actors. Expand Multilateral Fisheries Enforcement Cooperation. The U.S. Coast Guard will build and maintain lasting cooperation with key partners to empower regional resource conservation and management. Working with U.S. and international partners, the U.S. Coast Guard will assist at-risk coastal States and like-minded nations to develop and maintain their own robust counter-IUU fishing capacity, bolstering their governance and enforcement systems and affirming the United States as a preferred partner. Through targeted, persistent, and collaborative efforts, we will sustain and strengthen connections with partner nations supporting international oceans governance.
United States Coast Guard: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Strategic Outlook Implementation Plan
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a pervasive security threat to U.S. national interests. By undermining international agreements and fisheries conservation measures, IUU fishing jeopardizes global food security, with pronounced destabilizing effects on vulnerable coastal States. IUU fishing robs legal fishers of their livelihoods, endangering the economic security of all nations with a maritime boundary. Industrial scale fishing vessels deployed by irresponsible and aggressive flag States can increase geo‐political tensions, undermining the rights of nations to exercise their sovereignty and benefit from their economic . A lack of accountability by these flag States to enforce responsible maritime behavior on their fleets further enables illegal fishing actors to violate international rules-based order and opens the door to transnational criminal organizations to use profits from IUU fishing to monetize a suite of other illegal activities. It is the responsibility of all nations to deter IUU fishing activity within their capacity and capability, particularly vessels under their own flag. The U.S. Coast Guard has always sought to ensure safety, security, and stewardship at sea. Under this IUU Fishing Strategic Outlook, the U.S. Coast Guard will apply our broad authorities, capabilities, capacities, and partnerships to be a global leader in the fight against IUU fishing. Working with partners in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Coast Guard will uphold a whole-of-government effort to advance national interests in the maritime domain and promote economic prosperity. Through enhanced engagement with like-minded nations and key maritime stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard is ready to spearhead the global fight against IUU fishing. We will do so by pursuing the following Lines of Effort: Promote Targeted, Effective, Intelligence-Driven Enforcement Operations. The U.S. Coast Guard will lead global efforts to detect and deter IUU fishing on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of partner nations. Through the innovative use of intelligence, technology, data analysis, and information sharing, we will identify, target, and interdict illicit actors in the maritime domain in order to disrupt corrupt cycles of influence that enable illegal operations. Counter Predatory and Irresponsible State Behavior. The U.S. Coast Guard will prioritize operations and engagement in areas where our efforts are most critical to demonstrate U.S. commitment and model responsible behavior. The U.S. Coast Guard will shine a light on the activities of those who violate international rules-based order, exposing and holding accountable the most egregious predatory actors. Expand Multilateral Fisheries Enforcement Cooperation. The U.S. Coast Guard will build and maintain lasting cooperation with key partners to empower regional resource conservation and management. Working with U.S. and international partners, the U.S. Coast Guard will assist at-risk coastal States and like-minded nations to develop and maintain their own robust counter-IUU fishing capacity, bolstering their governance and enforcement systems and affirming the United States as a preferred partner. Through targeted, persistent, and collaborative efforts, we will sustain and strengthen connections with partner nations supporting international oceans governance.
