Tackling Illegal Fishing

Human Dimensions of the Blue Horizon: Behavioural Insights for Compliance and Deterrence

Principal Investigators
Dr.
Asha de Vos
Dr.
Ana Nuno
Other Scientists

Project Overview

UN Ocean Decade Challenge

Change humanity’s relationship with the ocean

Funded by

While there has been considerable progress on new technology and enforcement practices to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, there have been limited studies to date that focus on understanding why people do it.

Working with communities in Sri Lanka and India that fish across the north and central parts of the Indian Ocean, the project is investigating what motivates people to fish illegally. With a research team that includes social scientists and management and policy experts, the findings of the project will be used to understand what determines whether people comply or not with legislation, and what deterrents are likely to be most effective. Combined with enforcement, these strategies can then be applied across the entire Indian Ocean region to reduce levels of illegal fishing, particularly in marine protected areas.

  • Sri Lankan fishermen and their freshly caught sharks.
  • Fisherman and friends on their ship, returning from the ocean after having illegally fished sharks.
  • Claire Collins having a laugh with Sri Lankan fishermen.
  • Large sharks gutted and waiting to be sold in the market, India.
  • Sharks & Fins for sale.
  • Dead shark in a fish market, India.
  • Dead shark weighted for sale, India.

Publications

Boom-and-Bust Cycles of Holothurian (Sea Cucumber) Populations in the Chagos Archipelago: An Indication of Poaching or Natural Process?

Widman, E.A., Collins, C., Evans, L., Price, A.R.G. (2023). Boom-and-bust cycles of holothurian (sea cucumber) populations in the Chagos Archipelago: An indication of poaching or natural process? Aquatic Conservation.