ISSN 2348-313X (Print) International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 8, Issue 3, pp: (8-14), Month: July - September 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Illegal fishing and its impacts on marine life Sufian Almubarak Lecturer, Geography Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud University- Al Hasa – Saudi Arabia
Abstract: Globally, fisheries and marine ecosystems are being exploited at a regular rate controlled by law. However, there is a dangerous activity by humans which contributes to the disruption of these systems. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the most serious threats to the health of the world's fisheries and oceans and to the security of the fishing trade. As demand increases and coastal fish stocks decline, ships are encouraged to take risks to pursue the ever-diminishing resources in the seas and oceans. The effects of this activity do not only reach a certain geographic area, but they also contribute to the decline of many different species. This affects marine ecosystems in general, spreading disruption throughout the connected systems quickly. The stability of these systems is achieved only by the interaction of each living organism with its environment, other species, and the non-living objects within the system. The risks of illegal fishing impact both individuals and countries as a whole. Statistics show that these negative activities contribute to the effects of food shortage, as well as directly impacting countries’ economies. Fortunately, countries have become aware of the danger this activity poses to both human and marine life. Many have created firm measures to deter these violations, establishing cooperative agreements at the international level and implementing other solutions that will be discussed in this literary review. Keywords: Illegal fishing, Marine life, Aquatic organisms, Environmental damage, Human damage.
1. INTRODUCTION Bodies of water are home to large numbers of living organisms. Marine life has the most biological diversity on the planet (Baird, 2006) and is, therefore, an important source of food. Fisheries are defined as locations where living resources from water and its surfaces are obtained. These stocks are important for marine ecosystems and are naturally renewed through reproduction. Humans have used fish wealth from time immemorial as an important food supply (Baird, 2006). However, Palma, Tsamenyi, and Edeson (2010) explain that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems. It undermines the conservation of marine biodiversity and national and regional efforts to manage fisheries sustainably. IUU fishing has escalated over the past 20 years, particularly in high seas fisheries. However, its dynamic, adaptive, and confidential nature prevents direct assessment of its effects (Palma, Tsamenyi, and Edeson, 2010).
2. STATE OF THE PROBLEM WORLDWIDE Illegal fishing means every fishing operation and all other marine items carried out by fishing vessels without a license, license or equivalent document, fishing not subject to the legal and regulatory provisions of the flag State or the regulations of the universally recognized fisheries management organizations, Or uncontrolled fishing of legal and regulatory texts applicable to marine waters, where these vessels carry out their activities in violation of the law, which is expressed in illegal fishing (Jennings and Kaiser, 1998). 2.1 Global Statistics of IUU Agnew et.al (2009) state that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is harmful to the environment which contributes to the over-exploitation of fish stocks in marine life. It contributes significantly to the rapid decrease of fish in marine ecosystems. Through the authors' review and review of the situation in 54 countries and on the high seas, the minimum
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