Pirate fishing: Terms and definitions

FOC (flags of convenience)
Pirate fishing
Illegal fishing
Unreported fishing
Unregulated fishing

FOC (flags of convenience)

A "flag of convenience" country is one that allows fishing vessels to operate under its flag without having the intention to ensure that they abide by relevant regulations (despite Law of the Sea provisions governing flag state responsibility).

Such flags are used by fishing boat owners/companies to avoid fishing conservation and management regulations as well as safety/labour standards.

Although some of these FOC countries are members of, signatories to, or otherwise participate in relevant regional fisheries organisations or arrangements (eg. Equatorial Guinea/ICCAT), they consistently fail to take responsibility for ensuring that their flagged vessels obey all of the rules and regulations.

Companies using flags of convenience are often based in countries that are members of relevant regional/international fisheries organisations.

Pirate Fishing

Greenpeace considers as "pirates" those fishing vessels that fly flags of convenience, or otherwise engage in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). GP also considers vessels servicing FOC fishing vessels (for fish transport/resupply) as "pirate" vessels regardless of their flag as they help fishing vessels to continue to avoid restrictions and actions by other states such as harbour and market closure.

Illegal Fishing

Is fishing conducted by vessels of countries that are parties to a fisheries organisation/arrangement but operate in contravention of its rules;or - in a country's waters without permission from the country; or - on the high seas without showing a flag or other markings

Unreported Fishing

As the name indicates concerns fishing activities not reported to the relevant national or regional authorities by the fishing vessels or the flag state, whether they are parties or not of the relevant fisheries organisations/arrangements - this category includes under- reporting of catch or mis-reporting, such as of tonnage, species or fishing area.

Unregulated Fishing

Is fishing conducted by vessels flying the flag of countries which are not parties of, signatories to, or participants in relevant fisheries organisations or arrangements, and therefore consider themselves not bound by their rules. This is the most obvious loophole in international law which manifests itself concretely through the FOC phenomenon.