As the UN tightens the net around illegal fishing, now is the time to act

Illegal fishing robs the world's oceans of 26m tons of seafood annually. Now, a new international treaty aims to make it tougher for thieves

In the time it takes you to read this sentence, nearly 10,000 lbs of fish will be stolen from the world's oceans. Illegal fishing, which accounts for up to 26m tons of seafood annually, robs legitimate fishers and governments of revenue, undermines the accuracy of fisheries' stock assessments and threatens the stability of coastal communities that rely on the legal trade.

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