Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, also know as IUU or pirate fishing, is a widespread problem in most parts of the world’s oceans. One of the biggest threats to marine biodiversity, it is also a threat to the legitimate fishing industry and to the seafood industry’s business.
Pirate fishing inhibits the effective management of marine resources and magnifies the global problem of over-exploitation and depletion of the world’s fish stocks. It damages the ocean habitat and steals food and income from vulnerable coastal communities and the legitimate fishing industry. Consumers do not want to support pirate fishing, and need to have full assurances that the products they are buying have not been caught in an unfair and illegal manner.
If you want fish for the future you need to act against pirate fishing now!
Greenpeace has published a global database, so called blacklist, of fishing and support vessels involved in pirate fishing activities and the companies behind them. Stopping pirate fishing requires transparency and action all along the chain of custody from ship to shelf.
Greenpeace encourages retailers, suppliers and traders to use the database to ensure the fish they source does not come from pirate fishing vessels or from companies involved in IUU activities.
Are you a retailer, supplier or trader opposed to IUU fishing?
If you are a company supporting these principles and act accordingly, you should communicate this publicly to your suppliers, other business associates and your customers. You should also inform Greenpeace about your commitment so that we can publish your company details on a separate listing on http://blacklist.greenpeace.org, naming progressive businesses.
You are also urged to express your concerns on IUU fishing to your national and regional political decision-makers. You should request them to take the strongest possible legislative steps to fight pirate fishing by closing down ports to IUU seafood products, and put into place a Global Record of Fishing Vessels as a priority.
The site contains two different blacklists of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) vessels and companies.
Official Blacklist
Greenpeace has compiled the Official Blacklist from publicly available official registries of IUU vessels and companies. For example, the Official Blacklist includes blacklists from a number of regional fisheries management organisations. We review all official blacklists on an annual basis and update the Official Blacklist accordingly.
Greenpeace Blacklist
The Greenpeace Blacklist contains information on vessels and companies that have been recorded engaging in IUU activities, but have not yet been blacklisted by an official body. Greenpeace encourages stakeholders to report irresponsible fishing vessels and companies that fish without a license or are in breach of management and conservation measures together with supporting evidence to the administrator of the site.
Follow the links for information on the criteria for listing or delisting an IUU vessel or company on the Greenpeace Blacklist. There is also a form to report an IUU fishing vessel and a petition form to have a vessel removed from the Greenpeace Blacklist.
Industrial fishing vessels and fishery support vessels, including motherships, refrigerated carriers and supply vessels, may be included on both the Official Blacklist and the Greenpeace Blacklist.
Please note that Greenpeace does not claim the databases to be exhaustive of all IUU operators - there will be more irresponsible fishing operators that we have not yet identified.