IUU fishing takes place where vessels operate in violation of the
laws of a fishery, e.g. taking too many or fishing during the closed
season. IUU fishers have an economic incentive: many species of
crabs and lobsters, particularly those that are in short supply, are of
high value. IUU fishing has a high rate of success, especially when
governments fail to regulate or enforce national or international
laws (e.g. because of lack of capacity or poor levels of governance),
and the coastal fisheries of developing countries are particularly
vulnerable to IUU fishing (HSTF, 2006).