asean Legal Framework for Cooperation against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (iuu): Significance, Challenges and Proposed Solutions

Abstract

Abstract Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (iuu) fishing is an act that is provided for in many international legal instruments, causing enormous impacts on biodiversity and the environment, sustainable development as well as entailing serious economic impacts. For that reason, the European Union has taken strict action against fishing vessels and iuu-supporting countries through the mechanism of “yellow card”, and even “red card” on aquatic products imported into the EU, based on meeting EU standards for iuu fishing. Not only Vietnam but many countries in asean have also been sanctioned by such cards from the European Union (EU). Not only has this measure greatly impacted each country’s export industry, but it also harms asean as a whole. Establishing and developing an asean cooperation mechanism for combating iuu fishing is meaningful in that context. The article stresses on the importance of a legal framework for combating iuu fishing in asean; and discusses the challenges to developing such a framework. Finally, the article proposes solutions to realize asean’s cooperation model.