Dark Waters: How Illegal Fishing Threatens Indo-Pacific Prosperity
Beneath the calm blue surface of the Indo-Pacific lies a crisis few notice but many feel. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has quietly become one of the biggest threats to the region’s economy and security. China’s massive distant-water fishing fleet, with nearly 17,000 vessels, accounts for about 44% of global fishing activity. But behind those numbers is a harsher truth, i.e., a significant share of these operations break international rules, leaving coastal states poorer and marine ecosystems dangerously depleted. [1][2][3]
The economic loss is astounding. Asian countries stand to lose between $10 billion and $23.5 billion every year to IUU fishing. Indonesia alone loses $3 to $5 billion, which could have funneled its development agenda if the capital remained in its economy. [4][5][6]
Ripple effects reach far beyond the short-term catch value. Disrupting equitable business leads to the failure of entire economic systems. Refinery plants experience a loss of raw materials, shipping routes remain underutilized, and export revenue diminishes. For the Western Indian Ocean, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania as a group lose $142.8 million per year to illegal fishing practices. [3] For millions of coastal families, these numbers mean empty nets, reduced income, and weaker food security. [7][8]
The environmental impact is also devastating. The South China Sea, responsible for 12% of the world's catch, already suffers a depletion of fish stocks by 70–95%. Blast fishing has devastated 70% of Indonesia's coral reefs. Explosives not only kill fish but also destroy entire ecosystems, and the majority of the catch is irretrievable. Cyanide fishing is also devastating, as it poisons reefs and kills three-quarters of fish within two days. [6][7] The cycle is vicious. Overharvested stocks force fishermen to harvest more, speeding collapse further. The cost could not be greater for the 520 million people in the Indo-Pacific who rely on fishing and the 2.6 billion who depend on fish as their primary source of protein. Small island nations are especially at risk. Their extensive exclusive economic zones and weak patrol capability make them vulnerable. At the same time, Vietnamese "blue boats" continually intrude into the neighboring seas, placing native fishermen in direct competition for dwindling catches. [8][7]
IUU is not a case of rogue individuals but of advanced networks. Chinese fleets typically turn off their Automatic Identification Systems or send false signals, rendering "dark fleets" not detectable by satellites. [1] Another approach is "reflagging," where ships change flags of weak-governance nations, which become even harder for jurisdictions to pursue. New reports show that almost 70% of squid jigging ships are engaged in suspicious fishing, assisted by carrier and refueling vessels allowing fleets to stay at sea for up to months. [9][1]
Governments are not twiddling their thumbs. ASEAN has also established mechanisms for cooperation to enhance monitoring, and Indonesia's aggressive "sink the boat" campaign between 2014 and 2019 sank 317 illegal immigrant boats, sending a clear message. [10][11] The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue nations also are not behind. In 2022, they initiated the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, an initiative of satellite capacities of India, Japan, Australia, and America. From 2025 on, coast guards will jointly patrol across the oceans, increasing watch while reducing expenditure through the sharing of responsibility. [12][13][14][15]
Technology is also helping to counter this problem. Real-time satellite monitoring now makes it harder for vessels to hide. Indonesia launched a National Fish Traceability System using blockchain technology to ensure the authenticity of the source of seafood along its supply chain. [16]
The EU is also helping through some platforms that help the enforcement agencies across nations to coordinate instantly. [17][10] Most notably, China's decision in April 2025 to join the Port State Measures Agreement could mark a significant shift. Given that its fleet spends 99% of its port visits in domestic harbors, a successful implementation would directly impact the core of global IUU fishing. [18]
But challenges remain. Legal loopholes need to be addressed, consistency in port state measures must be maintained, and smaller nations require capacity building to hold the line. [19][4] Real cooperation cannot stop at merely sharing information; it must extend to coordinated enforcement with common standards, interoperable systems, and joint authority across borders. [15][19]
Illegal fishing is more than an environmental issue. It strikes at the rule of law on the seas and tests whether the Indo-Pacific states can rise above narrow sovereignty to protect their shared future. The alternatives, like economic bleeding, food insecurity, and collapsing ecosystems, are simply not sustainable. [10][1][7]
The true measure of success will not be in policy papers or patrols alone, but in healthier fish stocks, thriving coastal communities, and restored maritime order in one of the world’s most strategic regions. The prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region are literally at stake.
References:
2. https://oceana.org/press-releases/china-dominates-44-of-visible-fishing-activity-worldwide/
3. https://adf-magazine.com/2025/07/indian-ocean-nations-grapple-with-illegal-chinese-fishing-trawlers/
4. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/davos24-pacific-countries-drive-down-illegal-fishing/
5. https://smallwarsjournal.com/2023/01/20/strategy-fishing-iuu-fishing-and-american-influence-pacific/
7. https://earth.org/economic-and-environmental-consequences-of-illegal-fishing-in-asia/
11. https://ijbel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IJBEL28.ISU-1_523.pdf
12. https://kiips.in/details/indias-coast-guard-an-imperative-in-indo-pacific-security
14. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/22/asia-pacific/politics/quad-summit-biden-kishida-china/
15. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/quads-joint-patrols-in-the-indo-pacific/
16. https://en.antaranews.com/news/338718/indonesia-partners-with-10-countries-to-combat-illegal-fishing