GITNUXREPORT 2026

Iuu Fishing Statistics

Illegal fishing harms oceans and costs billions in global economic losses.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Globally, IUU fishing is estimated to cost legitimate fishing industries between $10 billion and $23 billion per year

Statistic 2

IUU fishing deprives governments of $4.2 billion in potential tax revenues annually worldwide

Statistic 3

IUU fishing costs the European Union €6.8 billion annually in lost revenue

Statistic 4

IUU fishing leads to $2.7 billion annual loss for Pacific Island nations

Statistic 5

Global fisheries subsidies fueling IUU total $35 billion annually

Statistic 6

IUU fishing undermines $50 billion in global aquaculture value chains

Statistic 7

Annual economic loss from IUU in artisanal fisheries: $1.5 billion globally

Statistic 8

IUU depletes $15 billion in consumer seafood value annually

Statistic 9

$23.5 billion lost to foreign IUU fleets in developing countries

Statistic 10

IUU costs Senegal $300 million in fisheries revenue annually

Statistic 11

IUU fraud in US seafood imports: 20-30% mislabeled, $2 billion loss

Statistic 12

$1 billion in illegal abalone trade from IUU in South Africa

Statistic 13

Global insurance payouts for IUU damage: $500 million yearly

Statistic 14

Lost revenue to India from IUU: $1.2 billion yearly

Statistic 15

$8 billion IUU impact on tourism from reef damage

Statistic 16

Philippines IUU losses: $500 million annually

Statistic 17

$3 billion subsidies to DWFNs fueling IUU

Statistic 18

Mexico Gulf IUU snapper: 25% illegal

Statistic 19

Bangladesh hilsa IUU: 30% of export value

Statistic 20

Over 500 vessels were identified engaging in IUU fishing in the Northwest Pacific in 2022 via vessel monitoring

Statistic 21

95,000 fishing vessels operate illegally transshipping at sea, evading regulations

Statistic 22

Port State Measures have blacklisted 1,200 vessels since 2017 under RFMOs

Statistic 23

AI-driven monitoring by Global Fishing Watch flagged 8,000 IUU incidents in 2023

Statistic 24

300 prosecutions for IUU fishing occurred in 2022 across 50 countries

Statistic 25

Interpol's Operation Storm led to 1,000 arrests and $100 million seizures since 2014

Statistic 26

150 RFMO blacklists contain 2,500 IUU vessels cumulatively

Statistic 27

EU IUU Regulation denied entry to 850 consignments worth €220 million since 2010

Statistic 28

4,000 vessels deactivated AIS for IUU in Indian Ocean 2022

Statistic 29

200+ countries adopt PSMA, inspecting 50,000 vessels yearly

Statistic 30

Satellite prosecutions: 50 cases in 2023 using VMS data

Statistic 31

Catch documentation schemes cover 90% of trade, blocking 10,000 tonnes IUU

Statistic 32

1,500 fines totaling €50 million issued by EU for IUU 2022

Statistic 33

Blockchain traceability pilots block 5,000 tonnes IUU seafood

Statistic 34

WCPFC blacklists 400 vessels, 20% de-flagged

Statistic 35

100 eNGO patrols deter 2,000 IUU incursions yearly

Statistic 36

VMS mandates cover 80% vessels, reducing IUU by 25%

Statistic 37

500 tons IUU toothfish seized globally 2023

Statistic 38

RFMO compliance audits flag 1,200 IUU cases yearly

Statistic 39

IUU activities contribute to the overexploitation of 33% of global fish stocks, accelerating biodiversity loss

Statistic 40

IUU practices result in the annual discard of 10 million tonnes of bycatch, harming marine ecosystems

Statistic 41

Coral reef degradation from IUU blast fishing affects 15% of reefs in the Coral Triangle

Statistic 42

Overfishing via IUU depletes top predators, reducing populations by 60% since 1950

Statistic 43

IUU dynamite fishing destroys 20,000 hectares of reef annually in Indonesia

Statistic 44

Bycatch from IUU trawling kills 300,000 seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals yearly

Statistic 45

IUU contributes to 50% collapse in shark populations in key fisheries

Statistic 46

Ghost fishing from lost IUU gear kills 640,000 whales/seals yearly estimate

Statistic 47

IUU cyanide fishing poisons 30% of live reef fish trade

Statistic 48

IUU trawling reduces fish stocks by 35% in 50 years globally

Statistic 49

Plastic pollution from IUU gear: 640,000 tonnes enter oceans yearly

Statistic 50

Tuna stocks decline 50% due to IUU in Pacific

Statistic 51

Sea turtle entanglement in IUU gear: 40,000 deaths yearly

Statistic 52

Biodiversity hotspots lose 25% species due to IUU

Statistic 53

Albatross populations halved by IUU longline bycatch

Statistic 54

Mangrove destruction for IUU shrimp: 20,000 ha/year

Statistic 55

Hammerhead shark fins from IUU: 90% of trade

Statistic 56

Seagrass bed loss 15% from IUU anchoring

Statistic 57

Dolphin deaths from IUU purse seine: 50,000/year

Statistic 58

IUU fishing represents up to 26% of the global marine catch, equivalent to 11-26 million tonnes annually

Statistic 59

Global IUU fishing volume peaked at 30% of catch in the 1990s, now stabilized at 11-20%

Statistic 60

Satellite data shows 55,000 unique fishing vessels active globally, with 20% linked to IUU risks

Statistic 61

IUU represents 20% of global seafood trade value, $44 billion yearly

Statistic 62

Unreported catch from IUU estimated at 8-10 million tonnes globally per year

Statistic 63

IUU fishing vessels number over 30,000 dark vessels hiding from AIS

Statistic 64

Global IUU catch peaked at 23 million tonnes in 2009

Statistic 65

26% of global catch from high-seas is potentially IUU

Statistic 66

IUU accounts for 1.5 million tonnes of tuna catch globally yearly

Statistic 67

Unregulated fishing in Arctic: 10% of emerging catch IUU

Statistic 68

Global small-scale IUU: 40% of artisanal catch

Statistic 69

High-seas IUU: 30% of fishing effort unregulated

Statistic 70

IUU vessels spoofing AIS locations: 15,000 instances detected 2023

Statistic 71

11 million tonnes unreported catch globally 2015 estimate

Statistic 72

Dark fleet in South Atlantic: 500 vessels, 10% global IUU

Statistic 73

Global IUU trade laundering: 500,000 tonnes yearly

Statistic 74

40% high-seas catch IUU in tuna RFMOs

Statistic 75

IUU in squid jiggers: 20% Northeast Pacific

Statistic 76

Global vessel growth 70% since 2012, 25% IUU risk

Statistic 77

In the Indo-Pacific region, IUU fishing accounts for approximately 30% of total catch value, leading to $3.5 billion in annual losses

Statistic 78

In Southeast Asia, IUU fishing constitutes 20-50% of total landings

Statistic 79

In West Africa, IUU catches exceed legal catches by 3:1 ratio, totaling 2 million tonnes yearly

Statistic 80

In the Mediterranean, IUU fishing accounts for 15% of bluefin tuna catch

Statistic 81

In Eastern Central Atlantic, IUU catch is 37% of reported landings

Statistic 82

South China Sea IUU fishing volume reaches 12% of regional catch, 2.5 million tonnes

Statistic 83

In Guinea, IUU fishing represents 40% of total catch value

Statistic 84

Northwest Atlantic IUU cod fishery: 25% unreported catch

Statistic 85

Liberia flagged 800 IUU vessels in 2021 audit

Statistic 86

Galapagos Marine Reserve loses 20% biomass to IUU Ecuador-China fleets

Statistic 87

Bay of Bengal IUU: 25% of shrimp catch unreported

Statistic 88

Gulf of Guinea: 60% of catch IUU, 1 million tonnes yearly

Statistic 89

Southeast Asia: 3 million tonnes IUU catch annually

Statistic 90

North Pacific: 18% IUU in sablefish fishery

Statistic 91

Caribbean: 30% lobster catch IUU

Statistic 92

Bering Sea IUU crab: 15% unreported

Statistic 93

East Africa: 50% demersal catch IUU

Statistic 94

Argentina EEZ IUU incursions: 1,200 vessel-days 2022

Statistic 95

Black Sea anchovy IUU: 40%

1/95

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Picture a hidden fleet of rogue fishing vessels silently plundering our oceans, draining billions from global economies and pushing marine life to the brink—a crime that represents up to a staggering 26 percent of the world's total catch.

Key Takeaways

IUU fishing represents up to 26% of the global marine catch, equivalent to 11-26 million tonnes annually
Global IUU fishing volume peaked at 30% of catch in the 1990s, now stabilized at 11-20%
Satellite data shows 55,000 unique fishing vessels active globally, with 20% linked to IUU risks
Globally, IUU fishing is estimated to cost legitimate fishing industries between $10 billion and $23 billion per year
IUU fishing deprives governments of $4.2 billion in potential tax revenues annually worldwide
IUU fishing costs the European Union €6.8 billion annually in lost revenue
In the Indo-Pacific region, IUU fishing accounts for approximately 30% of total catch value, leading to $3.5 billion in annual losses
In Southeast Asia, IUU fishing constitutes 20-50% of total landings
In West Africa, IUU catches exceed legal catches by 3:1 ratio, totaling 2 million tonnes yearly
IUU activities contribute to the overexploitation of 33% of global fish stocks, accelerating biodiversity loss
IUU practices result in the annual discard of 10 million tonnes of bycatch, harming marine ecosystems
Coral reef degradation from IUU blast fishing affects 15% of reefs in the Coral Triangle
Over 500 vessels were identified engaging in IUU fishing in the Northwest Pacific in 2022 via vessel monitoring
95,000 fishing vessels operate illegally transshipping at sea, evading regulations
Port State Measures have blacklisted 1,200 vessels since 2017 under RFMOs

Illegal fishing harms oceans and costs billions in global economic losses.

Economic Impacts

Globally, IUU fishing is estimated to cost legitimate fishing industries between $10 billion and $23 billion per year
IUU fishing deprives governments of $4.2 billion in potential tax revenues annually worldwide
IUU fishing costs the European Union €6.8 billion annually in lost revenue
IUU fishing leads to $2.7 billion annual loss for Pacific Island nations
Global fisheries subsidies fueling IUU total $35 billion annually
IUU fishing undermines $50 billion in global aquaculture value chains
Annual economic loss from IUU in artisanal fisheries: $1.5 billion globally
IUU depletes $15 billion in consumer seafood value annually
$23.5 billion lost to foreign IUU fleets in developing countries
IUU costs Senegal $300 million in fisheries revenue annually
IUU fraud in US seafood imports: 20-30% mislabeled, $2 billion loss
$1 billion in illegal abalone trade from IUU in South Africa
Global insurance payouts for IUU damage: $500 million yearly
Lost revenue to India from IUU: $1.2 billion yearly
$8 billion IUU impact on tourism from reef damage
Philippines IUU losses: $500 million annually
$3 billion subsidies to DWFNs fueling IUU
Mexico Gulf IUU snapper: 25% illegal
Bangladesh hilsa IUU: 30% of export value

Economic Impacts Interpretation

The staggering, multi-billion dollar toll of illegal fishing reveals a global heist where the only things more plundered than the oceans are the legitimate economies and livelihoods that depend on them.

Enforcement and Mitigation

Over 500 vessels were identified engaging in IUU fishing in the Northwest Pacific in 2022 via vessel monitoring
95,000 fishing vessels operate illegally transshipping at sea, evading regulations
Port State Measures have blacklisted 1,200 vessels since 2017 under RFMOs
AI-driven monitoring by Global Fishing Watch flagged 8,000 IUU incidents in 2023
300 prosecutions for IUU fishing occurred in 2022 across 50 countries
Interpol's Operation Storm led to 1,000 arrests and $100 million seizures since 2014
150 RFMO blacklists contain 2,500 IUU vessels cumulatively
EU IUU Regulation denied entry to 850 consignments worth €220 million since 2010
4,000 vessels deactivated AIS for IUU in Indian Ocean 2022
200+ countries adopt PSMA, inspecting 50,000 vessels yearly
Satellite prosecutions: 50 cases in 2023 using VMS data
Catch documentation schemes cover 90% of trade, blocking 10,000 tonnes IUU
1,500 fines totaling €50 million issued by EU for IUU 2022
Blockchain traceability pilots block 5,000 tonnes IUU seafood
WCPFC blacklists 400 vessels, 20% de-flagged
100 eNGO patrols deter 2,000 IUU incursions yearly
VMS mandates cover 80% vessels, reducing IUU by 25%
500 tons IUU toothfish seized globally 2023
RFMO compliance audits flag 1,200 IUU cases yearly

Enforcement and Mitigation Interpretation

Despite the growing arsenal of global surveillance and legal measures, from AI watchdogs to blockchain ledgers, the sheer scale of illegal fishing—evidenced by thousands of flagged vessels, darkened transponders, and blacklisted catches—reveals an ocean-sized game of whack-a-mole where the moles keep multiplying.

Environmental Impacts

IUU activities contribute to the overexploitation of 33% of global fish stocks, accelerating biodiversity loss
IUU practices result in the annual discard of 10 million tonnes of bycatch, harming marine ecosystems
Coral reef degradation from IUU blast fishing affects 15% of reefs in the Coral Triangle
Overfishing via IUU depletes top predators, reducing populations by 60% since 1950
IUU dynamite fishing destroys 20,000 hectares of reef annually in Indonesia
Bycatch from IUU trawling kills 300,000 seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals yearly
IUU contributes to 50% collapse in shark populations in key fisheries
Ghost fishing from lost IUU gear kills 640,000 whales/seals yearly estimate
IUU cyanide fishing poisons 30% of live reef fish trade
IUU trawling reduces fish stocks by 35% in 50 years globally
Plastic pollution from IUU gear: 640,000 tonnes enter oceans yearly
Tuna stocks decline 50% due to IUU in Pacific
Sea turtle entanglement in IUU gear: 40,000 deaths yearly
Biodiversity hotspots lose 25% species due to IUU
Albatross populations halved by IUU longline bycatch
Mangrove destruction for IUU shrimp: 20,000 ha/year
Hammerhead shark fins from IUU: 90% of trade
Seagrass bed loss 15% from IUU anchoring
Dolphin deaths from IUU purse seine: 50,000/year

Environmental Impacts Interpretation

It’s a crime spree of staggering efficiency, as illegal fishing simultaneously bankrupts our oceans’ future, kills its innocent bystanders, and shreds the very life support systems it depends on.

Global Scale and Prevalence

IUU fishing represents up to 26% of the global marine catch, equivalent to 11-26 million tonnes annually
Global IUU fishing volume peaked at 30% of catch in the 1990s, now stabilized at 11-20%
Satellite data shows 55,000 unique fishing vessels active globally, with 20% linked to IUU risks
IUU represents 20% of global seafood trade value, $44 billion yearly
Unreported catch from IUU estimated at 8-10 million tonnes globally per year
IUU fishing vessels number over 30,000 dark vessels hiding from AIS
Global IUU catch peaked at 23 million tonnes in 2009
26% of global catch from high-seas is potentially IUU
IUU accounts for 1.5 million tonnes of tuna catch globally yearly
Unregulated fishing in Arctic: 10% of emerging catch IUU
Global small-scale IUU: 40% of artisanal catch
High-seas IUU: 30% of fishing effort unregulated
IUU vessels spoofing AIS locations: 15,000 instances detected 2023
11 million tonnes unreported catch globally 2015 estimate
Dark fleet in South Atlantic: 500 vessels, 10% global IUU
Global IUU trade laundering: 500,000 tonnes yearly
40% high-seas catch IUU in tuna RFMOs
IUU in squid jiggers: 20% Northeast Pacific
Global vessel growth 70% since 2012, 25% IUU risk

Global Scale and Prevalence Interpretation

While the world's oceans are being stripped by a shadow armada of over thirty thousand dark vessels, this industrial-scale poaching now accounts for up to a quarter of the global catch, representing a forty-four billion dollar black market that systematically undermines every honest net cast upon the seas.

Regional Statistics

In the Indo-Pacific region, IUU fishing accounts for approximately 30% of total catch value, leading to $3.5 billion in annual losses
In Southeast Asia, IUU fishing constitutes 20-50% of total landings
In West Africa, IUU catches exceed legal catches by 3:1 ratio, totaling 2 million tonnes yearly
In the Mediterranean, IUU fishing accounts for 15% of bluefin tuna catch
In Eastern Central Atlantic, IUU catch is 37% of reported landings
South China Sea IUU fishing volume reaches 12% of regional catch, 2.5 million tonnes
In Guinea, IUU fishing represents 40% of total catch value
Northwest Atlantic IUU cod fishery: 25% unreported catch
Liberia flagged 800 IUU vessels in 2021 audit
Galapagos Marine Reserve loses 20% biomass to IUU Ecuador-China fleets
Bay of Bengal IUU: 25% of shrimp catch unreported
Gulf of Guinea: 60% of catch IUU, 1 million tonnes yearly
Southeast Asia: 3 million tonnes IUU catch annually
North Pacific: 18% IUU in sablefish fishery
Caribbean: 30% lobster catch IUU
Bering Sea IUU crab: 15% unreported
East Africa: 50% demersal catch IUU
Argentina EEZ IUU incursions: 1,200 vessel-days 2022
Black Sea anchovy IUU: 40%

Regional Statistics Interpretation

These statistics paint a starkly consistent global heist, where illegal fishing is not a rare crime but a brazen, industrialized competitor that steals up to half of what's in the ocean right from under our noses.

Sources & References

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