Eligible Countries
Developing Countries with Strategic Interest
Background
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a global maritime threat of both security and sustainability dimensions. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that IUU fishing accounts for up to 26 million tonnes of fish annually, which represents approximately one in every five fish caught globally that equals to economic losses of over USD 23 billion each year. Beyond economic theft, IUU fishing is closely linked to unsafe, unregulated vessels, crew exploitation, illegal transshipment, and maritime accidents, posing severe risks to maritime safety, food security, and human rights.
In Southeast Asia, the Western Central Pacific and South China Sea remain global hotspots that accounts for over 45% of global IUU fishing incidents (FAO, 2022). Malaysia, strategically located along vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), faces overlapping challenges in ensuring maritime domain awareness (MDA), fisheries sustainability, and law enforcement interoperability. The issue also intersects with the region’s maritime safety and security architecture as illicit fishing operations frequently overlap with drug smuggling, human trafficking, and unregulated vessel movements, thus compromising both environmental governance and national maritime defence.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982), coastal and port states are obligated to ensure the sustainable use and protection of marine resources, while the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA, 2009) compels states to deny port access to IUU-linked vessels. Meanwhile, IMO’s frameworks, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and MARPOL, provide a complementary regime to secure vessel operations, ensure safe navigation, and prevent marine pollution.
Recognising this convergence between maritime safety, security, and sustainability, the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), proposes a specialised course to enhance the capacity of policymakers and enforcement officers from developing maritime nations to combat IUU fishing through integrated enforcement, safety compliance, and security cooperation.
Objective
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Enhance understanding of global IUU fishing challenges and their implications for maritime security, governance, and sustainability.
- Examine international legal and policy frameworks addressing IUU fishing and marine law enforcement, and port state control (including UNCLOS, FAO PSMA, MARPOL, and relevant IMO instruments).
- Explore best practices and innovative tools in securing sustainable seas, with a focus on maritime surveillance, enforcement cooperation, and sustainable fisheries management.
- Develop strategic action plans to strengthen national and regional responses against IUU fishing through inter-agency and cross-border collaboration.
- Strengthen international collaboration to promote rule of law, sustainable oceans, and blue economy development across regions.
Course Outline
The training course outline is as follows:
Day | Module | Content | Methodology | Proposed Facilitator(s) |
1 | Global Overview of IUU Fishing and Maritime Safety and Security | Session 1: Introduction to the Course · Background, objectives, training outlines, and expected outcomes. · Importance of maritime law enforcement for sustainable seas.
Session 2: Understanding IUU Fishing · Definition, trends, and global impacts of IUU fishing. · Linkages between IUU fishing, food security, and maritime safety and security.
Session 3: Global Frameworks on Ocean Governance · Overview of UNCLOS, FAO instruments, and IMO conventions (SOLAS, ISPS, MARPOL). · Legal principles guiding the fight against IUU fishing.
Session 4: The Role of International Cooperation · The need for regional and cross-border collaboration in enforcement. | Lectures | MIMA and external facilitators |
2 | Legal and Policy Frameworks for Maritime Law Enforcement | Session 1: UNCLOS and International Maritime Law · Key provisions of UNCLOS related to fisheries, enforcement, and EEZ rights. · Case studies on legal implementation in developing states for safety and security in maritime zones.
Session 2: FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) · How PSMA enhances port-based enforcement and inspection measures. · Compliance obligations and challenges for developing countries.
Session 3: IMO Instruments and MARPOL · Port security and pollution control regulations (MARPOL, ISPS Code). · Integrating environmental protection with maritime safety and security.
Session 4: Policy Dialogue on Enforcement Challenges · Interactive discussion: legal gaps, inter-agency coordination, and capacity needs. |
Lectures, Case Studies
| MIMA and external facilitators |
3 | Enforcement Practices, Cooperation, and Technology | Session 1: Maritime Domain Awareness and Surveillance Technologies · Use of AIS, VMS, drones, and satellite imagery for monitoring. · Role of data sharing and regional information systems.
Session 2: Inter-Agency and Regional Cooperation in Maritime Safety and Security Operations · Coordination between coast guards, navy, customs, and fisheries authorities. · Examples of joint enforcement operations and cross-border cooperation.
Session 3: Port-Based Enforcement and Inspections · Practical steps for risk-based vessel inspection and port compliance checks. · Ensuring legal evidence collection and data management.
Session 4: Addressing Environmental Impacts of IUU Fishing · Ecological consequences of IUU fishing on ecosystems and biodiversity. · Integrating conservation objectives with enforcement actions. |
Group Discussions, Case Studies
| MIMA and external facilitators |
4 | Site Visits | ● Visit to a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) | On-site Exploration, Report Writing | MIMA and external facilitators |
5 | Site Visits | ● Visit to Department of Fisheries (DOF) | On-site Exploration, Report Writing | MIMA and external facilitators |
6 | Site Visits | ● Visit to the Royal Malaysian Navy | On-site Exploration, Report Writing | MIMA and external facilitators |
7 | Group Presentations and Conclusion | ● Developing Action Plans ● Presentations of Action Plans ● Peer Feedback and Discussion | Group Presentations | MIMA and external facilitators |
Methodologies
The course will consist of interactive lectures, case studies, group presentations, and site visits to enhance participants’ understanding and foster collaboration.
Methodology Breakdown:
● Interactive Lectures: 40%
● Case Studies: 20%
● Group Presentations: 10%
● Site Visits: 30%
