Hosted by Hawkeye 360
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global threat eroding sustainable fisheries and healthy ocean ecosystems. It also perpetuates egregious human rights abuses through human trafficking, forced labor, and hazardous work conditions. Combatting IUU fishing is a difficult task due to the remote maritime regions where it occurs. Difficulty in identifying and tracking vessels engaged in illicit fishing activities further complicates direct enforcement actions and effective policies to prevent and deter these activities from continuing. Innovative commercial technologies may offer potent tools to government agencies such as NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard to overcome these barriers to effective enforcement and deterrence. This panel will discuss some of the commercial technologies currently being evaluated and used by federal agencies to crack down on IUU fishing and its associated human rights abuses. Panel members will also discuss the potential for expanded public-private partnerships to leverage commercial capabilities in the fight against forced labor and human trafficking on IUU vessels.
Speakers:
- Sally Yozell, Senior Fellow and Director, Environmental Security program, Stimson Center (moderator)
- John Serafini, CEO, HawkEye 360
- Erik Friesen, Solutions Engineer, Planet
- Johan Bergenas, Senior Vice President for Oceans, World Wildlife Fund-US (WWF-US)
- James Chang, Senior Oceans and Environment Policy Adviser, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)