A new report by Trygg Mat Tracking and the World Wide Fund for Nature sheds light on the escalating exploitation of unprotected areas in the vast Indian Ocean high seas, leading to soaring catches with minimal oversight. Squid fishing has witnessed an astonishing 830 percent increase since 2015, while species like sharks, dolphins, whales, and porpoises receive little, if any, legal protection.
The report emphasizes how regulatory gaps in the Indian Ocean are contributing to overfishing and endangering various species. Nearly 15 percent of all wild-caught seafood is supplied by the Indian Ocean, with one-third of its fish stocks being exploited beyond sustainable levels, exacerbated by high levels of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Unregulated fishing, occurring in areas without governing laws, often receives less attention from policymakers. Duncan Copeland, executive director at Trygg Mat Tracking, highlights the difficulty in creating new laws to manage international fisheries, requiring support from nations with competing economic interests.
Tuna fishing, valued over US $6.5 billion annually, is regulated by two regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) in the Indian Ocean. However, non-tuna species lack comprehensive protection, and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) falls short of covering the entire Indian Ocean.
The report links Chinese-flagged vessels, predominantly involved in unregulated fishing, to areas like the Pacific off North Korea. The lack of high seas regulation poses threats to various species, prompting the researchers to recommend extending SIOFA’s jurisdiction to cover unregulated zones and implementing more robust conservation and reporting regulations.
Sharks, dolphins, whales, and porpoises currently lack monitoring and protection from any Indian Ocean RFMO, and the report advocates for standardized conservation measures across RFMOs. Recommendations include standardized by-catch reporting, ensuring seafood imports come from legal, regulated fisheries, and enhancing fishery monitoring, data sharing, and regional coordination.
While the report underscores the shortcomings of current fisheries management, conservationists argue that the recommendations fall short of adequately protecting the high seas. Concerns about the performance of RFMOs worldwide in terms of sustainable fishing, observer coverage, and ecosystem-based management highlight the need for more comprehensive global efforts to safeguard biodiversity and livelihoods.
Source: Kimberly Riskas