Sabrina Dineshkumar, Tanvi Dani FIU Institutional Repository
Sabrina Dineshkumar, Tanvi Dani FIU Institutional Repository
Sabrina Dineshkumar, Tanvi Dani FIU Institutional Repository
Sabrina Dineshkumar, Tanvi Dani FIU Institutional Repository
Sabrina Dineshkumar, Tanvi Dani FIU Institutional Repository
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels
On the basis of its diverse indicators, the Index provides a measure of the risk of IUU fishing in and by different countries. The Index cannot be used as the basis for computing the incidence of IUU fishing in individual countries, or perpetration of IUU fishing by given fleets. It merely identifies areas of better and poorer state performance, and associated domains of higher and lower IUU risks.
The Index has been developed by Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd., a fisheries and aquaculture consultancy company working globally, and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a Geneva-based NGO network of experts working on human rights, democracy, governance, and development issues where organized crime has become increasingly pertinent.
Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd. IUU Fishing Risk Index
The Outlaw Ocean Project Bait-to-Plate
Skylight’s technology is free to government, regional, and nongovernmental organizations worldwide that work to protect our seas from illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.
AI2 Skylight
OFAC, Department of Treasury OFAC Sanctions Search Tool
United States Department of Agriculture USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Reports
China’s fishing activities are not purely commercial but are closely tied to broader state strategy. The DWF fleet functions as an extension of Beijing’s “Maritime Great Power” ambitions, integrating state subsidies, overseas infrastructure, and coordinated vessel movements to advance geopolitical objectives. This includes leveraging fishing presence to assert influence in contested or strategically important regions, while maintaining flexibility to scale operations in response to diplomatic conditions.
The consequences of this model are substantial. Developing regions, particularly in Africa and Latin America, face significant economic losses, environmental degradation, and pressure on local food security. At the same time, global seafood supply chains have become increasingly dependent on Chinese production. This report argues that China’s IUU fishing practices represent a systemic, state-directed challenge rather than isolated violations. Addressing this issue will require a shift in policy approaches, as existing regulatory frameworks are insufficient to counter a centrally coordinated and heavily subsidized global fishing enterprise.
China’s expanding footprint in South America, driven by trade, infrastructure investment, and broader political engagement, has amplified concerns about its maritime behavior. IUU fishing alone has imposed billions of dollars in economic losses on the region, threatening fisheries, local livelihoods, and ecological sustainability. Despite efforts by countries such as Chile, Ecuador, and Peru to improve surveillance and enforcement, resource and capacity limitations continue to hinder effective responses.
This report argues that combating IUU fishing presents a strategic opportunity for the United States to strengthen its leadership in the Western Hemisphere while countering China’s growing influence. However, success depends on (1) improving regulatory clarity through regional fisheries organizations and (2) expanding multinational cooperation, including training and joint operations.
Alexander Goodno National Defense University Press
Over the past decade, the expansion of Chinese fishing fleets along the Pacific coasts of countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Colombia has become a persistent challenge, impacting marine ecosystems, local economies, and national sovereignty. While some governments have taken direct action, deploying naval forces, strengthening regulations, or restricting port access, others have attempted to balance enforcement with maintaining strong economic ties to Beijing. These responses highlight a broader regional trend: even countries deepening cooperation with China are increasingly unwilling to tolerate IUU fishing practices.
This report argues that China’s engagement in Latin America faces a growing contradiction between its climate leadership and its maritime behavior. While Beijing promotes sustainability and green development, its fishing practices undermine these claims, creating reputational and geopolitical risks. As regional coordination against IUU fishing strengthens, China may be forced to reconcile these competing dynamics or risk eroding its influence in the Global South.
Alonso Illeuca China Global South Project
M. Dylan Spencer, Emilie Christiansen, Stephen F. Pires, Chi-Heng Tsai, Ulhas Gondhali, Gohar Petrossian Science Direct
NOAA Fisheries Report on IUU Fishing, Bycatch, and Shark Catch
The Outlaw Ocean Project China The Superpower of Seafood
Sara Nix C4ADS: Keeping the Lights On Report
C4ADS C4ADS: Off The NASDAQ, Still On The High Seas Pingtan Marine Enterprise Two Years Later
Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Anthony R. Marshak Congressional Research Service