Description
Illegal fishing threatens fish populations and marine habitats, affecting the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities worldwide. It also undermines conservation and management in large Marine Protected Areas (MPA), such as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) MPA. Despite its designation as a non-fishing MPA, the abundant fish and shark populations of BIOT attract Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing from surrounding countries. To manage this, it is key to understand the social context of non-compliance.By bringing together a diverse team and building an extensive regional network of researchers, policymakers, government bodies, fisheries managers, and fisher communities, our ongoing project focuses on: gaining behavioural insights on the fishers' non-compliance and deterrence effects; identifying barriers which hinder the implementation of evidence-based enforcement; and exploring actions to reduce the level of illegal fishing in the BIOT and other protected jurisdiction in the Indian Ocean. Overall, we aim to provide critical insights into how to enhance the robustness of MPA management decisions, particularly when illegal behaviour is involved.
| Period | 17 Jun 2024 → 21 Jun 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event title | 7th European Congress of Conservation Biology : Biodiversity positive by 2030 |
| Event type | Conference |
| Conference number | 7th |
| Location | Bologna, ItalyShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |