SDG Indicator 14.6.1 | Sustainable developments Goals

SDG Indicator 14.6.1: Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

1. Key features and metadata

Definition: This indicator measures progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

Sub-indicator	Disaggregated by
ER_REG_UNFCIM Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (level of implementation: 1 lowest to 5 highest)	No current data disaggregation available.

Sub-indicator

Disaggregated by

ER_REG_UNFCIM

Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (level of implementation: 1 lowest to 5 highest)

No current data disaggregation available.

Sources of information: Data is provided by the National Fishery Ministries/Departments by way of a biennial questionnaire to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is responsible for their compilation.

Related SDG Indicators: 14.2.1 (Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas), 14.4.1 (Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels), 14.5.1 (Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas), and 14.c.1 (Implementation of the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea).

2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025

Figure 3.28 Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, underreported and unregulated fishing

3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact

Proposed disaggregation	Link to policymaking	Impact
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, by instrument and by country (level of implementation: 1 lowest to 5 highest): The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), The 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), The International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU), The 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), The FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (the Compliance Agreement). The FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Flag State Performance (VG-FSP) Applies to: ER_REG_UNFCIM	Each of these international instruments has its own provisions and specificrequirements to prevent IUU fishing (i.e. general measures in relation to IUU fishing activities, flag State responsibilities, coastal State measures, port State measures, and internationally agreed market-related measures). It is essential that decision-makers have a clear understanding of the level of implementation of each of them to determine the best levers of action to fight IUU fishing. This disaggregation provides a detailed picture of the efforts made by countries, instrument by instrument, to prevent and control IUU fishing. Developing countries, most particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), face specific challenges in fully implementing these international legal instruments due to the lack of capacity and resources. Therefore, they require the support of the international community to build capacity, implement relevant policy frameworks and secure the necessary funding (FAO 2023d).	IUU fishing is regarded as one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of marine ecosystems and its biodiversity. It undermines national efforts to protect and sustainably manage fish stocks with adverse impacts on the marine habitats, distorted competition and coastal communities, particularly in developing countries. It is sometimes associated with other illegal actions (e.g. corruption and organized crime). In particular, in developing countries that often lack the capacity to set up effective regulatory and operational frameworks for monitoring, control and surveillance. It affects local fisheries (particularly small-scale fisheries) and value chains. Subsequently, this contributes to increased poverty and food insecurity. It also disadvantages and discriminates against honest fishers(FAO n.d.c). Supporting the fight against IUU fishing by helping countries to develop national policy and administrative frameworks adapted to their national circumstances is a priority for the UN, the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and the international community(FAO 2001).

Proposed disaggregation

Link to policymaking

Impact

Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, by instrument and by country (level of implementation: 1 lowest to 5 highest):

The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
The 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA),
The International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU),
The 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA),
The FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (the Compliance Agreement).
The FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Flag State Performance (VG-FSP)

Applies to:

ER_REG_UNFCIM

Each of these international instruments has its own provisions and specificrequirements to prevent IUU fishing (i.e. general measures in relation to IUU fishing activities, flag State responsibilities, coastal State measures, port State measures, and internationally agreed market-related measures). It is essential that decision-makers have a clear understanding of the level of implementation of each of them to determine the best levers of action to fight IUU fishing.

This disaggregation provides a detailed picture of the efforts made by countries, instrument by instrument, to prevent and control IUU fishing. Developing countries, most particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), face specific challenges in fully implementing these international legal instruments due to the lack of capacity and resources. Therefore, they require the support of the international community to build capacity, implement relevant policy frameworks and secure the necessary funding (FAO 2023d).

IUU fishing is regarded as one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of marine ecosystems and its biodiversity. It undermines national efforts to protect and sustainably manage fish stocks with adverse impacts on the marine habitats, distorted competition and coastal communities, particularly in developing countries. It is sometimes associated with other illegal actions (e.g. corruption and organized crime). In particular, in developing countries that often lack the capacity to set up effective regulatory and operational frameworks for monitoring, control and surveillance. It affects local fisheries (particularly small-scale fisheries) and value chains. Subsequently, this contributes to increased poverty and food insecurity. It also disadvantages and discriminates against honest fishers(FAO n.d.c).

Supporting the fight against IUU fishing by helping countries to develop national policy and administrative frameworks adapted to their national circumstances is a priority for the UN, the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and the international community(FAO 2001).