Increased measures necessary to safeguard fishermen from maritime theft
Small-scale fisheries, which account for more than half of the world's fish catch, primarily for local markets, are under threat from piracy. This menace, disproportionately affecting these fishers, has been a growing concern, particularly in the Global South.
In a chilling incident that occurred in late April 2018, approximately 40 nautical miles off Paramaribo, Suriname, 20 commercial fishers were targeted in a massacre. Only five survived, while twelve are presumed dead, and three bodies were recovered. The attack sent a wave of fear through nearby fishing communities.
Piracy often strikes closer to shore, and the most important measures to protect fishermen from this scourge include stronger legal actions such as on-site executions and punishments for pirates, rewards for sailors who defend against pirates, and granting amnesties to deter piracy. Historically, these measures have involved enforcing laws that allow local trials and punishments near the coast, and international cooperation to secure maritime routes. Additionally, situational tactics like avoiding dangerous coastlines and using secure harbors play a role.
Violence was prevalent in over half of the reported incidents, impacting 1,053 fishers, resulting in 66 fatalities, and 114 individuals being thrown overboard and presumed dead. Improved data collection and further research are essential to develop a more comprehensive understanding of piracy against fishers. Increased proactive patrols and rigorous investigations of reported incidents are essential to signal governmental commitment to addressing piracy and to reduce the culture of impunity among perpetrators.
Our investigation identified 251 piracy incidents globally between 2019 and 2023, in which 701 fishing vessels were targeted. Attacks on fishers made up 14% of all reported piracy incidents worldwide between 2003 and 2023.
Protecting fishers means acknowledging their vulnerability, listening to their experiences, and investing in solutions tailored to the realities they face. Interim measures to protect fishers are needed, including secure and inclusive mechanisms for reporting pirate activity. Civil society and the private sector can play a crucial role in establishing informal reporting systems to protect fishers.
Piracy threatens the social and economic sustainability of communities that rely on small-scale capture fisheries. Initiatives like the Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CSSN) could serve as inspiration for similar systems to protect small-scale fishers. Improved data collection, further research, and increased proactive measures are urgently needed to prioritize human lives over commercial interests and protect fishers.
In the face of this persistent threat, it is clear that a broader, more inclusive approach to maritime security is urgently needed, one that values all lives at sea, not just those tied to global trade. Piracy and other forms of predation should not be among the risks faced by small-scale fishers, who already face extreme weather, uncertain catches, declining stocks, exploitation, and economic pressure. Urgent action is needed to address this issue and protect the livelihoods and lives of small-scale fishers worldwide.
