Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2023-R9-low (1) - Flipbook - Page 21
Projects
Marine Science 2022
Human Dimensions of Illegal,
Unregulated and Unreported Fishing
Lead Investigators: Dr. Ana Nuno, Nova University,
Dr. Asha de Vos, Oceanswell
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a
global issue that threatens fish populations, marine
habitats, and the livelihoods and food security of
vulnerable communities. This type of fishing often
targets healthy fish populations in marine protected
areas and undermines their effectiveness.
While there has been considerable progress on new
technology and enforcement practices to tackle IUU
fishing, there have been limited studies to date that
focus on understanding why people do it. Working with
communities in Sri Lanka and India that fish across the
north and central parts of the Indian Ocean, the project
is investigating what motivates people to fish illegally.
With a research team that includes social scientists and
management and policy experts, the findings of the
project will be used to understand what determines
whether people comply or not with legislation, and what
deterrents are likely to be most effective. Combined
with enforcement, these strategies can then be applied
across the entire Indian Ocean region to reduce levels of
illegal fishing, particularly in marine protected areas.
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