Why do operators choose to fish illegally?
The major motive for IUU activities is the potential for high profits. The operating costs of firms involved in illegal fishing are generally lower than those of the average fishing firm operating legally. Costs resulting from social and tax charges can be reduced to a minimum or may even be non-existent for fleets engaged in IUU activities under cover of offshore companies or flags of convenience. Non-respect of fisheries rules and trading of catches outside official channels also translate into reduced expenses. Finally, IUU operators are rarely penalized, and the sanctions they incur are usually not sufficient to act as an effective deterrent; they thus come to be considered as simply additional operating costs. While costs are low, the probable profits from IUU activities are generally high, in particular since illegal operators tend to target valuable species which command higher market prices (for example, toothfish, bluefin tuna or cod). Another reason for IUU activity is the ov
