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This article examines four major maritime law enforcement response areas: Drug trafficking, piracy, migration, and illegal fishing. It examines specific questions related to fisheries law enforcement including the detention of IUU fishers, use of force and under what circumstances may a vessel be destroyed. It finds that courts are increasingly addressing issues once considered within the sole discretion of government officials and operational commanders with the result being an ad hoc collection of judicial opinions, treaties, and multilateral agreements that lack coherence and consistency.

This 2019 report discusses the need for Observer reporting of transshipments to provide data to the tRFMOs that is independent and reliable from both the carrier vessel and the fishing vessel. The report highlights the issues surrounding Observer reporting in the WCPF Convention Area and the responsibilities of all stakeholders including the tRFMOs, the flag States and the coastal States in relation to monitoring vessels who transship on the high seas.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has seen staggering growth in transshipment activity within its Convention Area. Using publicly available information on transshipment
operations within the WCPF Convention Area, this report highlights the issues of inconsistent data from Observers, insufficient data sharing among the tRFMOs and recognises the need for additional management rules and data verification in order to maximise transparency and minimise the potential for IUU fish to be laundered into the market.

Stop Illegal Fishing's (SIF) mission is to combat IUU fishing, particularly in coastal African countries. To complete this goal, SIF has partnered with multiple stakeholders to support the implementation of the Port State Measure Agreement. SIF recognises the value of cooperation and describes their year of working at the national, regional and international level to stop illegal fishing and to strengthen the African voice in an effort to achieve a sustainable blue economy.