Mauritius: Indian Ocean haven for pirate fishing vessels

Abstract

Pirate fishing is fishing conducted outside the framework of any national or regional fisheries management regime. Technically it is referred to as Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing. Poaching within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs, the national 200-mile zones around coastal states) is a serious pirate fishing problem. The world s major fisheries are concentrated in the waters overlying the continental shelves as these areas support larger populations of fish and because these depths are easier for fishermen to reach. As a result of overfishing, many of these fisheries have collapsed or are in decline. The competition for the remaining fish is intense. This has lead to further unregulated or uncontrolled pirate fishing in international waters.