June 5: International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Every year, on June 5, the International Day for the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing is observed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Highlights

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization celebrated the day for the first time in 2018.

Why June 5?

June 5 was selected because, it was on June 5, 2016, the International treaty to end illegal fishing called the FAO Port State Measures Agreement was entered into force.

Port State Measures Agreement

It is the first international agreement on illegal fishing. Its aim is to prevent IUU fishing. IUU is Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated. The agreement applies to all the fishing vessels that are entering the port other than their own state.

Significance

The Food and Agriculture Organization says that illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities are responsible for the loss of 11 million to 26 million tonnes of fish every year. This loss accounts to economic value of 10 to 23 billion USD.

Sustainable Development Goal

The International Day for the fight against Illegal, Unreported and unregulated fishing day also signifies Target 14 of the Sustainable Development Goal. SDG 4 is effectively regulating harvests and illegal unregulated fishing by 2020.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020