The total value of Illegal Fishing losses worldwide is between $10 billion and $23 billion annually.

Source: MRAG and the University of British Colombia Fihseries Centre, “The Globa Extent of Illegal Fishing, ” April 2008.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas reported that illegal fishing accounted for over half of all catches of bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Source:  Dane Klinger and Kimiko Narita, “Foreign Policy: Saving The Sushi Menu,” NPR, February 17, 2010.

307 Chinese boats were seized by South Korean officials in 2009 for illegal fishing activities, down 15 percent from the 353 boats seized in 2008.

Source: “Fewer Chinese boats seized for illegal fishing last year,” Yonhap News, January 2, 2010.

Illegal fishing of bluefin tuna increases the total catch by 30 percent.

The total stock of bluefin tuna is at 15 percent of pre-industrial levels.

Source: Richard Black, “‘Last chance’ for tuna authority,” BBC News, November 9, 2009.

Countries in Sub-Sahara Africa are losing up to $1 billion a year to illegal fishing activities .

Source:  “Mozambique: Africa losing over 1 billion dollars to illegal fishing,” illegal-fishing.net,January 21, 2009.

Between 2002 and 2005, illegal fishing rings overfished 100,000 tons the cod stock in the Barent Sea every year.

Due to coorporation between Russia and Norway, in 2008 the illegal fishing catch was down to an estimated 15,000 tons.

Source:  “Barent Sea to boost haddock and cod supplies,” Fishupdate.com, November 3, 2009.

An estimated finds that if illegal fishing continues unabated, then in 2020 EU member states would lose $15 Billion in lost catches.

Source:  Associated Press, “EU OKs tougher penalties for illegal fishing,” San Jose Mercury News, October 20, 2009.

Illegal fishing activities off the coast of South Africa causes losses of $105 Million per year.

Source:  Markus Burgener, “Tackling the abalone syndicates,” TRAFFIC Powerpoint presentation, available at illegal-fishing.info.

Up to 20 percent of all fishes caught worldwide could be from illegal fishing activities.

Source: “Closing the net on illegal fishing,” BBC News, February 20, 2009.

Kenya losses an estimated $5 Million a year to illegal fishing activities.

Source:  Noel Mwakugu, “Pirate fishing boats target Africa,” BBC News, July 3, 2008.