The MOU – which builds upon NOAA’s broader efforts with the U.S. State Department and U.S. Coast Guard – allows the agencies to further support one another’s programs, raise awareness of the innovative ways illegal fishing is being addressed with the help of public and private sector alliances and further incentivize compliance and consequences for disobeying fisheries rules.
“Together, our two agencies are well positioned to help nations combat IUU fishing practices which have emerged as a leading maritime security threat and are associated with human rights abuses and other forms of transnational crime,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere and deputy NOAA administrator. “I commend the staff of NOAA and USAID who worked to develop this agreement, and thank all those who work every day to stop IUU fishing through diplomacy, enforcement, and science.”
