Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing constitutes a persistent and pressing problem estimated to account for up to US$23 billion annually in the APFIC area. The effects of IUU fishing can be severe, particularly for small-island and coastal developing states heavily dependent on fisheries, and include adverse impacts on peoples’ livelihoods, food security, national economies and the environment. Countries unable to fulfil international obligations for fisheries management and governance risk incurring trade sanctions on their fisheries exports, an increasing issue as export markets tighten their permitting. Furthermore, IUU fishing is increasingly associated with national and transnational organised criminal activities, although the evidence remains mixed. FAO commissioned this report two years ago to produce an independent update to an unpublished 2015 study on IUU fishing in the APFIC area of competence, which was presented to the APFIC as an information paper in 2016 (FAO 2016a). The 2015 study used a mixture of media reports, literature review, and interviews to build a picture of hotspots of illegal fishing across the APFIC area of competence. This report builds on the previous work, incorporating additional analysis methods to predict illegal fishing in a transparent manner. Based on discussions with the APFIC Secretariat, it was decided to limit the study to the illegal component of IUU fishing. A key difference with the 2015 study is the extension of the estimation of illegal fishing from the 33 hotspots covered in the 2015 study to the entire APFIC area of competence in this study.This report provides the following key outputs: (i) development and implementation of an agreed methodology for estimating illegal fishing levels and progress; (ii) information from case studies in three Asia-Pacific countries; and (iii) analysis of results from the agreed method estimating the incidence of illegal fishing and implication of efforts to reduce it. The approach taken to achieve these goals included a structured online survey of fisheries officials in APFIC countries, semi-structured interviews of key informants knowledgeable about illegal fishing in the APFIC region, and analysis of articles on illegal fishing from public media data across the APFIC area of competence.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a recognised global problem that undermines the integrity of responsible fisheries management arrangements and results in lost value to coastal states. The first attempt at quantifying the value and volume of IUU fishing in tuna fisheries within the Pacific Islands region was undertaken in 2016 using data from 2010-2015 (MRAG Asia Pacific, 2016). That study estimated the total volume of product either harvested or transhipped involving IUU activity in Pacific tuna fisheries was 306,440t, with an ex-vessel value of $616.11m. Nevertheless, the authors noted that the data and information underlying many of the estimates were highly uncertain and that the outputs should be seen as a ‘first cut’. In order to assess changes in the nature and extent of IUU fishing since that time, this study was commissioned as part of the Global Environment Facility-funded Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project II (OFMP II) to undertake a ‘2020 update’ of the original estimates. Broadly, the aim was to undertake an ‘apples vs apples’ update of the original estimates, using a consistent methodology and taking into account the latest available information. The study period covered the years 2017-2019. Importantly, this preceded any COVID-19 related impacts on monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and IUU activity in the region. Broadly, we used a ‘bottom up’ approach to quantify IUU fishing activity across key IUU risks in four categories: (i) unlicensed/unauthorised fishing, (ii) misreporting, (iii) non-compliance with other license conditions (e.g. shark finning) and (iv) postharvest risks (e.g. illegal transhipping). ‘Best estimate’ and minimum/maximum range values were generated for each risk, taking into account the best available information. Monte Carlo simulation was then used to produce probabilistic estimates of IUU activity, taking into account probability distributions assigned within the minimum and maximum range values. Using this approach, estimates of IUU volume and value were developed for each of the three main fishing sectors – purse seine (PS), tropical longline (TLL) and southern longline (SLL) – and then aggregated to produce an overall estimate for Pacific Islands region tuna fisheries. The report sets out the outcomes from the analysis, as well as the main messages arising. The report also identifies priorities for future MCS development in the region across both purse seine and longline fisheries.

This document complements previous technical guidance documents on planning and executing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing estimation studies by providing a catalogue of 26 estimation methodologies from published studies. These methodologies encompass a wide range of locations, fishing gear and IUU fishing types. The catalogue is organized around two ways of identifying relevant methodologies: a) the IUU fishing estimation approach; and b) the primary available data source. The five types of IUU fishing estimation approaches (“a”) include: 1) estimating total catch minus reported catch; 2) partitioning total catch into IUU/non-IUU fishing; 3) summing individual IUU fishing events to a total amount; 4) estimating “true” catches for suspect vessels or fleets; and 5) determining relative amounts or trends in IUU fishing. The four types of primary data sources (“b”) include: 1) fishery models; 2) commercial sources; 3) operational data; and 4) expert judgements, comparisons to catch compilations and stakeholder surveys. These two types of approaches help to identify the relevant methodologies presented as concise, individual one- to two-page summaries. Each methodology is described in terms of the key elements needed and how they can be sourced, the specific steps involved in constructing the estimate, and guidance on the applicability of the method.

This book offers an analysis of naval constabulary operations, in particular Australian fisheries patrols, and challenges the widely accepted Anglo-American school of maritime thought. In the Indo-Pacific, fisheries and the activities of fishing boats are of increasing strategic importance in Australia’s region – Australia’s Four Oceans. Issues of overfishing, population growth and climate change are placing growing pressure on fish as a resource, and in doing so are making fisheries more significant, and significant on a strategic as opposed to simply an economic or environmental level. When, combined with the growing use of fishing vessels as para-naval forces, it is clear that the activities of fishing vessels, whether fishing or not fishing, are matters of considerable strategic relevance. This book illuminates contemporary seapower challenges, explains and defines maritime security and examines and refines existing theory to advance a set of new or refined concepts to help frame the on-water activities of constabulary operations -- reducing the possibility of on-water miscalculation between states. This book will be of much interest to students and scholars of naval studies and sea power, maritime strategy, maritime security and International Relations.

At the end of the 20th century, the traditional forms of tourism transformed; they expanded by the introduction of new postmodern tourist forms, bringing innovative offers to the marketplace. Two of these new fast-growing forms are literary tourism and film-induced tourism, both of which fall under the umbrella of cultural tourism. Both niches of cultural tourism share the need to create products and experiences that meet the tourists’ expectations. Global Perspectives on Literary Tourism and Film-Induced Tourism discusses literary tourism and film-induced tourism and documents the advances in research on the intersections of literature, film, and the act of traveling. Covering a wide range of topics from film tourism destinations to digital literary tourism, this book is ideal for travel agents, tourism agencies, tour operators, government officials, postgraduate students, researchers, academicians, cultural development councils and associations, and policymakers.

The Thirty-sixth Session of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) was convened in virtual session, Bangkok, Thailand from 5 to 7 May 2021, hosted by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Thailand. It was attended by 50 registered delegates from 17 APFIC member countries, 3 non-APFIC FAO members and 7 observer Regional Organizations. The Commission reviewed the intersessional programme activities of APFIC and endorsed the report of the meeting of the 77th APFIC Executive Committee. The Commission emphasized the importance of fishery management grounded on science for sustainable marine and inland fisheries and recognized the importance of APFIC as a regionally focused platform and requested broader discussions and consultations among members related to APFIC’s future. The Commission endorsed the 2021-2023 biennial APFIC workplan with an amendment to include the establishment of an ad hoc working group to review the limitations and provide recommendations for future of the Commission . The Commission elected China (Chair) and Thailand (Vice-chair) as the office bearers for the Thirty-seventh Session, with India, Malaysia, Philippines elected as Members of the Executive Committee. The Commission agreed that the 37th Session of APFIC will be convened in China in 2023.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens the viability of high seas living resources. This book details the efforts of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Commission and the Australian government to adopt complementary measures to deter IUU fishing in the Southern Ocean. It describes how these various measures have proven effective in deterring IUU operators.