Why Are Some Flag States Unable or Unwilling to Address IUU Fishing?

• Published in: International Community Law Review
• Main Author: de Coning, Eve
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Brill 2020
• Subjects: Law; Political Science and International Relations; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/18719732-12341444; https://brill.com/view/journals/iclr/22/3-4/article-p487_16.xml; https://brill.com/downloadpdf/journals/iclr/22/3-4/article-p487_16.xml

Abstract This article is based on an analysis carried out by a group of experts from the North Atlantic Fisheries Intelligence Group into the flagging pattern of IUU fishing vessels. The article argues that the inability and unwillingness of some flag states to exercise due diligence to ensure that vessels on their register do not engage in IUU fishing may be explained by reference to the market demand and supply of ship registers that provide shipowners with favourable conditions to limit costs and mitigate risks. Some of these ship registers are established and managed by foreign private companies on commercial outsourcing contracts on behalf of economically vulnerable governments, and some of these governments may as a result lack the knowledge, expertise and resources to effectively address IUU fishing of vessels flying their flag.