United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday emphasised the urgent need to enhance international accountability to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, as well as destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling, which have severely impacted Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems for over a decade.
Speaking at a press conference during the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), Guterres responded to questions from The Daily Morning regarding the challenges faced by smaller countries like Sri Lanka in curbing cross-border IUU fishing perpetrated by regional actors, including India.
“We must develop better forms of accountability in relation to illegal fishing, and in relation to the way that the fishing resources of developing countries are being exploited by a certain number of predators,” the Secretary-General said.
He acknowledged the current mechanisms for international accountability as “extremely limited and inefficient” but stressed ongoing efforts to strengthen these systems.
Sri Lanka has long struggled against thousands of Indian fishing trawlers that regularly intrude into its northern and eastern waters.
These vessels employ the banned bottom trawling method, a destructive technique that not only plunders fish stocks but also devastates vital marine habitats.
Despite a clearly demarcated and legally binding maritime boundary, these incursions continue unabated, severely undermining the livelihoods of impoverished coastal communities dependent on fishing for their food security.
Guterres urged global support for the landmark international agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, known as the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement.
The accord seeks to conserve and sustainably manage marine biodiversity in international waters, a critical step toward protecting ocean ecosystems from further degradation.
“The Agreement is a historic step towards protecting vast areas of our ocean,” he said, congratulating the 134 countries that have signed and the 49 that have ratified the treaty, including recent new signatures and ratifications. He called on the remaining nations to join promptly, warning, “We don’t have a moment to lose.”
Highlighting the broader threats of climate change and overfishing, Guterres said the world must transform how the ocean’s bounty is harvested, stating, “Sustainable fishing is not a choice – it’s our only option.”
He cautioned that the global community is approaching a critical tipping point, beyond which ecological recovery may be impossible.
“The enemy is greed. Greed that sows doubt, denies science, distorts truth, rewards corruption, and destroys life for profit,” the Secretary-General warned. “We can’t let greed dictate the fate of our planet. That’s why we are here this week: to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all.”
Guterres further underscored the shared responsibility of governments, businesses, fishers, scientists, and civil society in protecting the ocean and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
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