Pirate fishing: stolen fish, stolen futures

From the islands of the South Pacific, to the coastal communities of West Africa, the pirate fishermen, who then claim their profits in European and Asian ports, are netting millions of dollars in much needed income. The United Nations estimates that Somalia loses US$300 million a year to the pirates; Guinea loses US$100 million. Globally more than US$4 billion is lost each year. Pirate fishing – known by its more technical and less colourful name: illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing – is the scourge of the oceans. It leaves communities without much needed food and income and the marine environment smashed and empty. It is disturbingly easy to become a fishing pirate and even easier to evade capture.