In advance of the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York next week, the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security team is pleased to officially release our new illegal fishing database. The database highlights the pervasiveness of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing around the world — from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean. It identifies over 200 incidents of illegal fishing in 2016 that converge with a U.S. national and/or regional security dimension, such as arms and drugs smuggling, corruption, and transnational organized crime. Findings include:

• 130 incidents that converge with regional and national security interests
• 48 incidents that converge with transnational organized crime
• 16 incidents of illegal fishing that converge with drug smuggling
• 10 incidents that converge with human security issues, like slavery

Most interestingly, however, are the gaps in coverage on this map: in areas of the world where there are few incidents, analysts and policymakers should take note, for this likely reveals a gap in capacity to monitor, enforce, and prosecute perpetrators of IUU fishing.

Please visit www.naturalsecurityforum.org to engage with the interactive map and explore each incident.

Stimson Welcomes Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti

Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti joined Stimson’s Sally Yozell, the Director of the Environmental Security program, to discuss the security implications of illegal fishing in Southeast Asia. Drawing on her experience in business and government, Minister Susi highlighted the importance of balancing security with economic development and sustainability in the fishing industry. Click here to watch the full event. 

Identifying Cutting-Edge Tools to Defend Marine Protected Areas

Last fall, the Environmental Security team and National Geographic’s Pristine Seas announced and launched an online catalog of monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement technologies to defend against IUU fishing in marine protected areas (MPAs). The first of its kind project features over 120 technologies, ranging from radar and vessel monitoring systems to unmanned underwater vehicles. To learn more, visit www.secureoceans.org. 

Environmental Security In The News

Stimson’s Environmental Security team has been featured in a variety of outlets including POLITICO, World Politics Review, Cipher Brief, U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Read our recent analysis: 

	Natural Security Series: Global Security and Illegal Fishing in Somalia By Sally Yozell
	Keeping Watch on China’s Maritime Strategy in North Korea By Amanda Shaver and Emma Myers

About The Environmental Security Program

The Environmental Security Program focuses on the linkages and threats posed to U.S. national and regional security due to environmental issues, including resource security, the impacts of climate change and other environmental problems that contribute to destabilization and conflict. Click here to learn more about our work.

Sally Yozell, Senior Associate & Director, [email protected]	Emma Myers, Research Assistant, [email protected]	Amanda Shaver, Research Assistant, [email protected]