Increasing Accountability At Sea

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Ensuring Seafood Transparency

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Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems, fishing communities, food security, and global efforts to sustainably manage and protect the ocean. Beyond these far-reaching impacts, it also undermines responsible fishers and costs the global economy up to $23 billion annually.

 

 

Those that participate in illegal fishing break or avoid the law by operating without a license, fishing where it is forbidden, exceeding catch limits, using prohibited gear or catching endangered and protected species.

Oceana works to expose illicit operators and drive stronger national government and EU action to strengthen fisheries oversight. Using tools such as Global Fishing Watch , we monitor and identify suspected illegal fishing activities, share evidence with authorities, and advocate for greater transparency and accountability across the fishing sector. By strengthening fisheries controls, enforcement and transparency, we can help protect the ocean and the communities that depend on them.

Accomplishments

November, 2025

Mediterranean Fishing Vessels Required to Obtain Permanent Identification Numbers to Increase Transparency

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean agreed to new transparency measures for all fishing vessels measuring 20 meters (~65 feet) or more in length, following campaigning by Oceana and our allies. Specifically, vessels will be required to have International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers. An IMO number is a permanent and unique identifier that stays with a vessel throughout its lifespan, even if its name, flag, or ownership change. This makes it much harder for vessels to hide their identity, increasing transparency and helping authorities to prevent illegal fishing in the Mediterranean, one of the most overexploited seas in the world.

November, 2025

Spain Strengthens Rules on Fishing Vessel Engines to Protect Fisheries 

The Spanish government approved a new law that strengthens regulations on the installation and reporting of fishing vessel engines – a key step toward addressing engine power fraud. While operating with overpowered engines was already illegal, authorities lacked the tools to prevent fraud and bring hidden engine power to light. The new rules improve oversight when engines are installed or replaced and require detailed technical information that allows authorities to verify engines before installation. The law also creates a pathway for vessel owners to declare their true engine power, contributing to the accurate reporting and management of fishing capacity. This victory follows a 2025 Oceana report that found 94% of the fishing vessels analyzed in the Spanish Mediterranean were operating with allegedly illegal engines. Fishing with more powerful engines than allowed hides how much fishing is really happening, undermining management and conservation efforts.

December, 2023

Spain Sanctions 25 Fishing Vessels for Disabling Public Tracking Devices

The Government of Spain sanctioned 25 Spanish-flagged fishing vessels for repeatedly disabling their automatic identification system (AIS). The sanctions, with fines of up to €60,000 (US$65,000), are a direct result of Oceana’s analysis and close collaboration with the Spanish administration. Oceana found the sanctioned vessels appeared to be fishing near Argentinian waters between 2018 and 2021 with their AIS trackers turned off. These vessels spent nearly twice as much time with AIS devices off as they did visibly fishing.

Vessels are known to turn off their AIS trackers to avoid being seen, possibly to engage in fishing that is not authorized. Broadcasting AIS vessel location data is required by Spain and the European Union to guarantee safety at sea.

Read the Press Release

November, 2023

Mediterranean Countries Can Now Penalize States who Fail to Tackle Overfishing and Illegal Fishing

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) created a sanction system that will allow it to penalize states that fail to tackle overfishing or illegal fishing by their fleets. This action, which is the result of campaigning by Oceana and its allies, is essential to restoring fish populations in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most overfished seas on Earth. Starting in 2025, the GFCM will be able to sanction countries that fail to take action when their trawl fleets fish in no-trawl areas, or if they fail to follow rules on fishing gear or catch restrictions. These penalties can include restricting fishing authorizations or reducing the allowed fishing days at sea. Prior to the GFCM’s decision, Oceana, ClientEarth, and the Environmental Justice Foundation prepared a legal analysis, which found that the GFCM could establish such a system. Oceana continues to urge Mediterranean countries to follow through on their commitments and restore fish populations and ecosystems.

June, 2023

EU Requires Tracking Systems for All Its Fishing Vessels

The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council agreed a new law that requires all European Union (EU) fishing vessels, including 49,000 small-scale vessels, to install and use tracking systems by 2030 at the latest. Tracking systems have numerous benefits for the ocean, including promoting sustainable fisheries by increasing transparency about fishing activities. Simultaneously, they empower fishers by involving them in fisheries management, and they enable rapid emergency response in the case of safety issues at sea. The law also requires more transparency from EU countries, which must now disclose national enforcement actions, including the annual number of infringements detected and sanctions imposed. They must also set up a digital traceability system to provide key information (species and origin) to authorities for all seafood products on the EU market. This law, which follows campaigning by Oceana and our allies, will enhance transparency, optimize fishing efficiency, and help combat illegal fishing.

Read the Press Release
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VIDEO: SMALL-SCALE FISHING VESSELS – GALICIA

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VIDEO: ENGINES UNDER CONTROL

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BUSINESSES AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING

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