June 5th is an important date for the environment, as it commemorates both the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and World Environment Day.
These days serve as powerful reminders of the interconnectedness of our planet’s health and the vital role healthy oceans play in our future. The fight against IUU fishing focuses on making fishing sustainable so that the marine ecosystem is not deprived of its living creatures.
People must support this effort to effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, IUU fishing, and destructive fishing practices. According to the World Trade Organization, IUU fishing refers to fishing activities conducted in violation of national, regional, and international laws. These activities are not regulated by states and cannot be easily monitored and accounted for.
Why IUU fishing is a key driver of global overfishing?
IUU fishing is a global problem threatening ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries, violating both national and international fishing regulations. It also threatens worldwide economic security and the natural resources that are critical to global food security. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) IUU fishing activities are responsible for the loss of 11–26 million tons of fish each year, which is estimated to have an economic value of 10–23 billion US$.
IUU fishing threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security and regional stability at risk, and is linked to major human rights violations and even organized crime. Unfortunately, the global supply chain is complex and weakly regulated, and illegal fish can penetrate it quite easily. Once intermingled, illegal products are very difficult to detect.
In fighting against IUU fishing, new AI technologies have already been applied to retrace fishing vessels’ routes and activities, revealing where illegal fishing activity may be taking place. Additionally, the movement of fish from port to port and country to country has been tracked, highlighting any trade information that looks suspicious and possibly illegal. Moreover, traceability—the ability to track seafood from bait to plate—is a beneficial tool needed to combat IUU fishing since fishing operations occur far from the eyes of consumers and regulators.
Illegal fishing is a global challenge, but it is a problem for the world’s oceans that can be resolved through collective efforts. Here’s what we can do:
- Consumers: Choose seafood from sustainable sources and ask retailers about their sourcing practices.
- Governments: Strengthen regulations and enforcement to combat IUU fishing and promote responsible fishing practices.
- Fishing Industry: Embrace transparency and sustainable practices to ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come.
By working together, we can ensure healthy oceans teeming with life, supporting thriving coastal communities, and contributing to a sustainable future for our planet!
OptiFish Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing
OptiFish targets exactly this critical issue, with its main mission focusing on integrating new technologies in combination with traditional tools for monitoring, controlling, and supervising fisheries for healthy oceans. The project sets high standards where innovation meets sustainability and fishermen are appropriately equipped with cutting-edge technologies and tools for efficient, sustainable, and eco-friendly practices.
Precise real-time monitoring
The OptiFish project aims to enable precise, real-time species recognition and fish stock health assessments by using electronic and genetic monitoring of catches enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision. These innovative techniques are crucial in reducing unwanted catches, preventing unreported fishing activities, and ensuring compliance with fishing regulations. The OptiFish goal is to go beyond proof-of-concept and achieve operational technological readiness levels. It will also develop a fishing decision support system, enabling fishermen to optimize their fishing operations while securing healthy ecosystems.
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5 pilot studies
The OptiFish Project will employ a series of 5 pilot studies across various seas in Europe to test and validate its onboard technologies and system architectures in 5 different types of fisheries.
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Consortium
The OptiFish consortium is expert, and innovation driven, bringing together 7 research institutes and universities, 7 technology companies, 2 producer’s organisations, 2 government bodies and 1 non-profit organisation. Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ILVO is coordinating.
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Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
