International Fisheries Law
How international law manages fish stocks, combats illegal fishing, and balances conservation with the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Managing the Ocean's Living Resources
UNCLOS gives coastal states sovereign rights over living resources within their EEZs, including the obligation to conserve fish stocks and allow harvesting of surpluses by other states. On the high seas, fishing is open to all states but subject to conservation obligations. The 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement strengthened the framework for straddling and highly migratory fish stocks that move between EEZs and the high seas.
Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are the primary governance mechanism. Bodies like the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) set catch quotas, enforce fishing regulations, and manage shared stocks. Their effectiveness varies enormously: some are praised for science-based management, while others are criticized as 'clubs' that prioritize their members' fishing interests over conservation.
