If caught, however, penalties may be high; Indonesia has had a policy of confiscating boats found fishing illegally and sinking them. There have also been some well-reported international sea-chases where various navies have chased and finally caught IUU offenders. So, the stakes are high…. good profits if not arrested, but a disaster if they are!

The international aspect of high seas fishing must not be overlooked. It is common for boats from one country to obtain fishing permits from another, and one bright spot in the picture is seen in the Central Pacific, where several island nations have joined together to enact and enforce fishing permit schemes. The result is that these island nations now see very significant benefits from the sale of permits (and catch quotas) to foreign boats. The foreign boats carefully comply with the terms of the permits, fish stocks remain at sustainable levels, and the industry in general remains on a stable economic level.

Some, not-so-bright spots exist, however, particularly in the deep South Atlantic and South Pacific off Argentina and Chile, and in the mid-Atlantic off West Africa.

IUU has an impact much wider than simply over-fishing. The potential political, and even military, consequences of a complete collapse in a fish stock cannot be over-emphasized. Recall back in the 60s when North Atlantic cod stocks crashed, British vessels frequently fished in Icelandic waters. The Icelandic Navy responded, and so did the Royal Navy, resulting in the famous “Cod Wars”. These involved much pushing and shoving of boats and warships and throwing of wet cod. But fortunately, no shots were fired. Any future ‘fish war’ may not be fought in such a benign manner.

Another continuing and shocking aspect of IUU is modern slavery.

Do join me up here on the Foc’sle next month, when we will look at the issue of fishing crew, how they are recruited and what their working conditions may be, and I will leave it up to you to decide if this amounts to “Modern Slavery”.