NOAA enters global IUU fishing fight with USAID
The U.S. government is boosting its efforts to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in oceans across the world.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), intend to combat what the agencies call threats to global food security and maritime commerce stability.
The Maritime Executive reports that NOAA and USAID plan to expand their mitigation and strategic programs to combat IUU fishing violations, especially in support of developing countries and their own capacity to enforce international fisheries law.
According to the report, the efforts also include the private sector and government coordination to combat IUU fishing activities and heighten the incentives for compliance with transnational fisheries rules.
“Together, our two agencies are well-positioned to help nations combat IUU fishing practices which have emerged as a leading maritime security threat and are associated with human rights abuses and other forms of transnational crime,” said Timothy Gallaudet, the assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the deputy NOAA administrator, in a statement.
“I commend the staff of NOAA and USAID who worked to develop this agreement, and thank all those who work every day to stop IUU fishing through diplomacy, enforcement, and science,” Gallaudet added in the same press release.
NOAA Fisheries, the government’s national service that coordinates with domestic and foreign governmental actors, issues policies and enforcement actions to address IUU fishing in primarily U.S. waterways.
NOAA Fisheries coordinates much of these activities with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Office of Marine Conservation within the State Department’s Bureau Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
The most recent move with USAID shows NOAA coordinating to support developing countries, as mentioned, and to further promote alliances with governments, international governmental organizations dealing with fisheries law, and the general enforcement of such rules.
All of this will be done through a signed memorandum of understanding highlighting the agency cooperation.
