How ASEAN can win its war against illegal and unregulated fishing

In May, the port city of Labuan Bajo hosted the 42nd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. However, the issue of growth is in stark contrast to the reality that there are still many unresolved maritime security issues in Southeast Asia.

Consequently, the regional high-level meeting resulted in agreements to support the protection of migrant workers, prevent human trafficking and address the myriad of illegal fishing practices in ASEAN countries.

During the recent Fourth Meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization Agreement on Port State Measures, held in Bali on May 8, delegates also highlighted the importance of addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. (IUU). The meeting emphasized that IUU fishing is a global concern and a threat to the conservation and sustainability of marine resources and ecosystems, given that more than 600 million people depend on the sector for their livelihoods around the world. These concerns about economic losses are particularly relevant in maritime Southeast Asia, where hundreds of thousands of fishermen make their living in the ocean.

In 2019, the total economic loss in ASEAN due to illegal fishing reached a staggering level $6 billion. To take a more specific example, financial losses from IUU fishing within Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone around the Natuna Islands amounted to $198 million in 2016. However, there are clear differences between countries. First, each ASEAN government has a different method for calculating the financial impact of illegal fishing practices. Second, each ASEAN country’s EEZ is of a different size, making the potential loss to Indonesia, which has a larger territorial sea area, much greater. These differences are two of the reasons why it is difficult for ASEAN countries to produce a consistent data set on the impacts of IUU fishing. This, in turn, makes it difficult to create effective solutions to a common problem.

Furthermore, the potential loss is likely much more significant than these figures suggest, given that the causes of IUU fishing also cause serious social impacts related to illegal recruitment and employment practices, both upstream and downstream, as well as a tremendous environmental damage and marine pollution.

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Upstream practices often involve the illegal recruitment and registration of fishing crews. Incomplete or incorrect registration by agents or offices that do not issue the correct permits can make fishermen potential victims of abuse once the fishing boats land.

Fishing crew members who work on fishing vessels that do not have work permits or who work on illegal vessels are not eligible for worker protection. For example, many unreported fishing crew members from Indonesia travel to other countries. like tourists, but then they board illegal fishing boats from the destination country to work in international waters. To avoid this outcome, the recent ASEAN Summit agreed to take measures to protect migrant workers and their families in crisis situations. By eradicating the crime of human traffickingIn particular trafficking facilitated by the use of digital technology, ASEAN hopes to help provide more protection for migrant workers employed on fishing boats.

Meanwhile, downstream, employment agents are looking for candidates from poor backgrounds who desperately need jobs. Agents will often woo workers with the promise of high wages on modern fishing boats. This is very often in stark contrast to reality: low paid work done in a poor environment and without proper safety standards.

ASEAN has worked to prevent illegal fishing practices and criminal activities linked to IUU fishing. In 2015, for example, the block inserted Guidelines to prevent the entry of fish and fishery products from IUU fishing activities into the world’s seafood supply chains. However, agreement and commitment at the ASEAN level in many cases has not translated into proper implementation in each country. Regional agreements may lack force, especially when they conflict with the national interests of different ASEAN member states.

Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Fisheries shows that 789 illegal fishing boats were caught entering Indonesian waters between 2015 and 2021. Although the number of boats caught fell by about 24 percent annually during that period, illegal fishing remains a major problem for the country. .

The lack of commitment among ASEAN member countries contributes to delaying progress in the fight against IUU fishing. The Southeast Asian governments agree to tackle the problem without the associated financial obligation required for the joint plan to succeed. As a result, each ASEAN member tends to prioritize its national interest. Therefore, the bloc needs a concrete action plan, including the creation of joint funds that can be used to develop a regional work plan, to tackle illegal fishing practices. Funding for each ASEAN member would depend on the size of their respective marine area and the fishing needs of each country.

If ASEAN demands a level of responsibility without demanding a similar level of financial commitment from each member country, it will only make the eradication of illegal fishing practices an ongoing battle.

This article is part of the ‘Blue Security’ project led by La Trobe Asia, the University of Western Australia Institute for Security and Defense, the Griffith Asia Institute, UNSW Canberra and the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue ( AP4D). The opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent the Maritime Exchange, the Australian Government or any government of the cooperating partner country.