“Illegal fishing is hugely destructive to ocean ecosystems, communities, and economies,” said Michele Kuruc, WWF’s vice president of ocean policy. “DETECT-IT is a new weapon in the global fight against the criminals pillaging our seas for their own personal gain.”
This kind of trade data analysis can assist efforts to combat illegal fishing by increasing the understanding of the problem, providing independent verification of a known IUU problem or detecting previously unidentified problems, assessing the effectiveness of trade and market-related measures, and determining the value of such illicit products in international trade.
After extensive testing, DETECT-IT is now available online for fishery workers, customs and enforcement agencies, seafood businesses, academics, journalists, and anyone else working to prevent illegal fishing. It’s a free resource to search, and offers case studies along with links to important news and research.
As DETECT-IT is tested and refined, this technology can be used to crack down on other highly-trafficked natural resources, including timber and wildlife.
Learn more about WWF’s work to end IUU fishing.