Environmental Justice Foundation

Crime at Sea: The Lawlessness of the World’s Oceans

The oceans are a vast expanse of lawlessness. Where international law governs, it is often the case that no law is enforced. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a part of a global fishing fleet where a significant number of fishing boats act with impunity. These ships fish in protected marine areas with destructive methods. They threaten endangered species on vessels that simultaneously carry out human rights and labor abuses.