Thank you, Chair, for the opportunity to speak with you today.
My name is Mark Young, executive director of the IMCS Network. I've spent my entire career working in fisheries compliance and enforcement, including more than 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and more recently supporting the IMCS Network, of which Canada is a founding member.
I understand that you have heard previously from a wide range of experts on this topic already, especially on the impact of IUU fishing associated with your domestic fisheries. I recognize the expertise of your Canadian fisheries officers in responding to your domestic fisheries compliance challenges, so I will intentionally focus my remarks on the broader regional and international considerations of IUU fishing as fish and fishers move between different jurisdictional areas.
Worldwide, IUU fishing accounts for around 20% of global catch, and in certain countries it's even closer to 50%. This affects Canada as well. A recent study found that over 20% of seafood imported into Canada is at risk of being sourced by IUU fishing. Some studies even indicate that IUU fishing worldwide accounts for up to $23.5 billion U.S. every year.
Because more than three billion people around the world depend upon fish for food and nutrition, IUU fishing practices threaten food security and sustainability and undermine efforts to reduce global hunger and malnutrition, especially in developing countries. In addition, as the modern fishery sector becomes more globalized, industrialized and integrated into the worldwide financial market, it is also becoming more exposed to organized crime, where there is a growing convergence between IUU fishing with other serious crimes like forced labour and arms and drugs trafficking.
Canadians are also directly affected. One way to think about this is in terms of fish species important to Canada, such as salmon or tuna, found along both your Pacific and Atlantic coasts. These fisheries have very strong economic, social and cultural significance to Canadians. However, these valuable fish stocks also share ecosystems or migrate into areas beyond Canada's own domestic waters, where increased threats of IUU fishing exist.
As a global problem, global solutions to IUU fishing are needed and must be supported through a combination of national, regional and international actions. We find that the activities and types of non-compliance that constitute IUU fishing are continually evolving. The global community must constantly strive to meet this challenge by being innovative, adaptable and, most importantly, working collaboratively together with one another.
Unfortunately, there is no single solution to the problem. It is a complex and evolving issue that requires comprehensive and adaptable responses. Strong policies and legislation are not the only things needed. It is critical to also have access to data, information and technology to allow fisheries officers to identify and respond to IUU fishing supported by these robust legal frameworks. Technology can help shed light on vessel activities and make vessel tracking more effective. However, without the ability to integrate these technologies with other fisheries information and to have outputs effectively analyzed by capably trained and knowledgeable fisheries officers, you will find that technology alone is little more than a passive tool.
Importantly, Canada has demonstrated that the use of technology is a priority in your own efforts to address IUU fishing in terms of both its availability and use. A great example of this is Canada's dark vessel detection program, which makes satellite remote-sensing data available to support a growing number of developing countries with their own efforts to address IUU fishing.
What else can Canada do? As a global leader in the fight against IUU fishing, you are uniquely positioned to continue this leadership. While you have a rightful priority to continue to focus your efforts on your own domestic fisheries, it is important to remember that these resources are also impacted by fishing activities that occur outside of these waters. It takes significant regional and international action to identify, examine and respond to these broader IUU risks. Effective participation, co-operation and collaboration in regional and international fisheries frameworks are key.
This is seen through your management and enforcement efforts of shared fisheries resources in the Gulf of Maine, the support of Operation North Pacific Guard, and Canada's first-ever fisheries patrol and high seas boardings and inspections conducted under the framework of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Notably, you have also been proactive in recognizing the importance of establishing public-private relationships to fight IUU fishing. One recent example is your support and engagement with the joint analytical cell to help achieve goals outlined in your Indo-Pacific strategy.
We should never forget that our MCS officers represent our most important resource. Those who work at the forefront of the IUU battle must be fully supported, empowered, informed, effectively trained and adequately resourced by our national and regional leaders.
In closing, no country is immune to IUU fishing and no country should operate in this complicated environment in isolation. Canada should continue to demonstrate leadership in the fight against IUU fishing by working collaboratively with a full range of like-minded and trusted partners to strengthen global fisheries compliance and enforcement efforts.
Thank you. I am happy to answer any questions.