Closing the net on illegal fishing (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

"The problem of illegal fishing is enormously widespread," observes Michael Lodge, an OECD fisheries expert.

"We have estimated the problem as being as much as 20% of the global catch."

Since 2000, the UN has been warning about the grave consequences of overfishing in the world's seas.

However, the impact of illegal fishing is adding to the strain on the already overexploited oceans.

The skippers of the illegal fishing boats tend to favour the waters of some of the poorest nations, which are often inadequately policed as a result of a lack of resources.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7900431.stm

The Television Trust for the Environment's (TVE) Earth Report - Stolen Fish - will be broadcast on the BBC World News Channel on 20-25 February 2008. Please check schedules for further details