Description
TitleThe decision to engage in illegal fishing
Date Created2012
Other Date2012-10 (degree)
Extentxiv, 228 p. : ill., maps
DescriptionThe rising global demand and the increasing value of fish and fish products have made international illegal fishing a lucrative business. Despite the regulatory measures undertaken internationally, regionally and locally, the problem persists and has significantly impacted fish stocks and the global ecosystem. Nearly 80% of global fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted, and illegal fishing is one of the major contributing factors to this problem. Should current rates of depletion continue, most global fish stocks will have collapsed by 2048. Coastal countries bear the direct consequences of illegal fishing, as 90% of these activities occur within their territorial waters. Poor coastal countries are particularly affected, since these countries have the richest marine resources that are exploited both internally and externally. The factors contributing to this problem have been studied before, but few studies have examined the problem globally. These studies have focused on such macro-level factors as a country’s GDP, governance effectiveness, level of corruption and lack of accountability, political stability, and the degree to which it is able to manage its resources. No study to date has examined globally the situational factors influencing the decision to engage in international illegal fishing. This research, therefore, analyzes situational factors by using data on 54 countries. Based on the framework of rational choice and situational crime prevention theories, such predictors as resource attractiveness, access to an easy escape route, formal and informal surveillance, and fisheries management efforts, are explored as significant factors affecting the decision to engage in illegal fishing. Findings confirm all propositions except that examining the effect of informal surveillance. Spatial analyses substantiate these findings and provide further detail about the regional impact of each predictor variable, as well as examine other global patterns.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Gohar A. Petrossian
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.