Exploring Shifting Drivers of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explores the factors driving Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka and the wider Indian Ocean region. Focusing on Sri Lanka as a case study, it examines how social, economic, and environmental changes during the pandemic influenced fishing behaviour compared to pre-pandemic conditions. The study combines desk-based analysis of policy changes, enforcement measures, market disruptions, and environmental conditions across Sri Lanka, India, and Chagos to identify key drivers of IUU fishing and inform more effective fisheries management and compliance strategies.