14 DAY TRIAL // About 20-32% of the wild-caught seafood imported into the United States on a yearly basis was illegal, green group Oceana, whose focus is on protecting wildlife in our planet's seas and oceans, announced this past April 7.
What the environmentalists mean is that this seafood comes from fisheries whose workers fail to abide by national and international laws concerning sustainable fishing practices, and who, therefore, endanger the wellbeing of marine ecosystems.
On its website, the organization explains that, as detailed in a study set to be published in the journal Marine Policy, the IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) seafood that makes it into the United States yearly is worth about $1-2 billion (€0.72-1.45 billion).
When compared to the overall value of wild-caught seafood imported into the country annually, said sum accounts for 15-25%, Oceana goes on to inform.
To put things into perspective, it must be said that, according to recent studies, pirate fishing makes up roughly 13-31% of the global catch and is worth an annual $10-23.5 billion (€7.28-17.2 billion). This means that, presently, the IUU seafood imported into the US is in line with global estimates of pirate fishing.
Oceana members and supporters explain that pirate fishing boils down to fishing in regions where such operations are illegal. Pirate fishers also exploit one area or another during prohibited times, catch species that are in danger of going extinct, or use gear that has been outlawed.
Apart from the fact that such practices threaten marine ecosystems, what worries the organization is the fact that illegal fishers more often than not make a profit while harming businesses that abide by the law. “Illegal fishing undercuts honest fishermen and seafood businesses that play by the rules,” Oceana advocate Beckie Zisser said in a statement.
In light of these findings, the organization urges that high officials in the United States move to secure proof of legality and traceability from fishers who wish to import their catch into the country. Oceana claims that such measures would help make sure that the country is not unknowingly supporting the illegal fishing industry.
As Beckie Zisser put it, “As the U.S. is one of the largest importers of wild-caught seafood, the federal government has a responsibility to cut off the financial incentives for pirates by keeping illegal product out of our markets. Without traceability, U.S consumers are inadvertently funding the profits of illegal fishing. We need to track our seafood from boat to plate to protect the oceans, consumers and public health.”