International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 2023

International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is celebrated on June 5 every year. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 to raise awareness of the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

IUU fishing is a major threat to global fish stocks and the marine environment. It is estimated that IUU fishing costs the global economy up to $23 billion per year. IUU fishing can also lead to overfishing, habitat destruction, and the loss of biodiversity.

The International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing is an opportunity to highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries management and to call for action to combat IUU fishing. There are a number of things that can be done to fight IUU fishing, including:

Strengthening national and international fisheries laws and regulations
Increasing monitoring and enforcement of fisheries laws
Raising awareness of the problem of IUU fishing
Promoting sustainable fishing practices

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History behind the Day

The Committee on Fisheries endorsed the proposal for the declaration of 5 June as the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. The date reflects the day when the Port State Measures Agreement officially entered into force as an international treaty. The entry into force of this agreement marks an historical event, as it is the first international legally-binding instrument specifically devoted to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The proposed draft resolution was submitted to the 40th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference (July 2017) for approval. In December 2017 the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on sustainable fisheries proclaimed 5 June as the “International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.” In the same resolution the UN also declared 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, which will help focus attention on the small-scale fishermen and women who comprise 90 percent of the world’s fisheries work force.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: