Illegal fishing captures 8–15% of global marine catch, UBC analysis finds

August 11, 2026 at 12:00 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Industrial-scale illegal fishing accounts for 8–15 per cent of global marine wild catch and underpins an illicit seafood trade worth $6.2–12.2 billion annually, according to University of British Columbia research. The environmental and social costs are concentrated in West Africa, East Asia and Southeast Asia, while much of the illegally caught seafood is consumed in North America, Europe and East Asia.

The Illicit Market

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that illegal and unreported fishing accounts for 8–15% of global marine wild capture, with an annual trade value of $6.2–12.2 billion. Lead author Dr. Philippe Le Billon of UBC described illegal fishing as a systemic feature of the seafood economy, enabled by weak governance, harmful subsidies and opaque corporate supply chains. He noted that risks remain low and rewards high, even as detection technology improves.

Unequal Impact

Roughly two-thirds of the illicit trade value originates in West Africa, East Asia and Southeast Asia, regions where enforcement capacity is limited and fisheries are central to food security and employment. Co-author Dr. Rashid Sumaila of UBC highlighted that developing coastal states bear the environmental and social costs, while wealthier markets in North America, Europe and East Asia capture the economic benefits.

Policy Reforms

The authors call for eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies, mandating electronic vessel identification, strengthening port state controls and increasing beneficial ownership transparency. Sumaila stressed that effective action must also protect small-scale and Indigenous fisheries, promote co-management, and align economic incentives with legal and sustainable practices.