Combating IUU Fishing: A Maritime Security Imperative for Bangladesh

Every year on 5 June, the world observes the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, marking the adoption of the Port State Measures Agreement in 2016. For Bangladesh, the observance in 2026 carries particular significance. As the country advances its Blue Economy ambitions in the Bay of Bengal, IUU fishing has emerged not merely as a fisheries concern but as a pressing maritime security challenge with serious economic, environmental and geopolitical implications.
Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish are caught illegally each year, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world’s marine catch and causing annual losses of USD 10-23 billion. For Bangladesh, the damage is alarming. Experts believe that the country loses hundreds of millions of dollars annually through depleted fish stocks, lost government revenue, weakened export competitiveness and long-term ecosystem degradation.
The threat extends far beyond fisheries management. Across many regions of the world, IUU fishing has increasingly become intertwined with transnational organised crimes, including forced labour, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling and human trafficking. Poorly governed maritime spaces often provide fertile ground for criminal networks to flourish, undermining good order at sea and increasing the risk of piracy and other non-traditional security threats. In this context, combating IUU fishing must be viewed as an integral component of maritime security strategy.
Bangladesh’s fisheries sector remains a critical pillar of the national economy. In FY 2023-24, total fish production exceeded five million metric tonnes, contributing approximately 2.5-3.5 percent to national GDP and supporting the livelihoods of nearly 18 million people. Fish supplies close to 60% of the country’s animal protein intake, making the sector central to food security and social stability. Although marine capture fisheries account for only around 12.5% of total production, their strategic importance is far greater due to their export potential, role in sustaining coastal communities, and relevance to the country’s Blue Economy agenda.

Yet the sector faces mounting pressure. More than 28,500 artisanal fishing boats and over 230 industrial trawlers legally operate in Bangladeshi waters. Alongside them, however, unauthorised foreign vessels, unreported domestic fishing activities, destructive fishing methods and violations of seasonal bans continue to strain already vulnerable marine resources. The consequences are increasingly visible in declining catches, shrinking fish sizes and growing economic hardship among coastal fishing communities.
Operationally, the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard have intensified patrols and enforcement operations in recent years. Nevertheless, limited offshore assets, inadequate radar and surveillance coverage, and gaps in real-time maritime data integration continue to constrain effective maritime domain awareness. Enforcement drives regularly uncover illegal gear, unlicensed vessels and widespread non-compliance with fishing regulations, indicating that IUU fishing remains deeply entrenched.
To its credit, Bangladesh has already taken several important policy initiatives. The government has adopted a National Plan of Action to combat IUU fishing and remains engaged in regional cooperation mechanisms under the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation. Efforts are also underway to expand vessel monitoring systems, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and satellite-based maritime surveillance. However, implementation remains uneven, while coordination among maritime, fisheries, customs and law-enforcement agencies still requires significant improvement.
Climate change is further intensifying the challenge. Rising sea temperatures, changing migration patterns of fish stocks, coastal erosion and increasingly frequent cyclones are placing additional pressure on marine resources. As competition for dwindling fish stocks grows, so too does the incentive for illegal fishing activities, increasing the risk of conflict and instability among resource-dependent communities.
Addressing IUU fishing in 2026, therefore, demands a far more integrated national response. Bangladesh must strengthen offshore enforcement capabilities, modernise digital fisheries governance, enhance inter-agency coordination and expand regional intelligence-sharing and joint maritime patrols with neighbouring countries. Equally important is empowering small-scale fishermen through awareness, community-based monitoring and sustainable livelihood support, transforming them into frontline custodians of marine resources.
Above all, policymakers must recognise that IUU fishing is no longer a peripheral fisheries issue. It is a strategic maritime security challenge directly linked to economic resilience, food security, environmental sustainability and national sovereignty. Failure to act decisively risks undermining Bangladesh’s Blue Economy aspirations and weakening its control over its maritime domain.
Conversely, a coordinated, technology-driven and rules-based approach can help transform the Bay of Bengal into a model of sustainable and secure ocean governance. Combating IUU fishing is therefore not simply a policy necessity; it is a strategic imperative for Bangladesh in 2026.
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The writer is a retired naval officer