Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing a threat to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea: a fisheries-maritime security approach

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global problem, especially for developing states, and occurs in maritime regions, such as the Gulf of Guinea. A review of the legal, institutional and policy frameworks for combatting IUU fishing in the Gulf of Guinea reveals that the relationship between IUU fishing and maritime security has not been adequately recognised. This research examines IUU fishing in the Gulf of Guinea to determine whether an integrated fisheries-maritime security approach is needed to effectively combat IUU fishing and enhance maritime security. After introducing the Gulf of Guinea and examining the importance of protecting its maritime domain from threats, the research draws on existing legislation and scholarly literature to demonstrate the evolution of maritime security threats. It highlights that early studies on maritime security focused on direct threats to national security as opposed to non-traditional threats. However, the global perception of maritime security threats has developed to include traditional and non-traditional maritime security threats, including IUU fishing.