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Identification of factors influencing the occurrence of illegal fishing and their prioritization in the coastal waters of Khuzestan
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Fatemeh Harout1   , Mohammad Khosravizadeh *1 , Parviz Zare2 , Nima Shiry3 |
1- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran
2- Department of Aquaculture Production and Utilization, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
3- Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Abbas, Iran |
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Abstract: (17 Views) |
Introduction
Global population growth, projected to surpass 9.7 billion by the mid-twenty-first century, is placing pressure on food production and distribution systems (FAO, 2025). With 828 million globally undernourished (FAO, 2023), sustainable management of high-quality protein sources is vital. Aquatic resources stand out as highly nutritious sources of animal protein and crucial for food security, employment, and coastal livelihoods. Capture fisheries remain significant contributors to global fish production and economies (Khosravizadeh et al., 2022). However, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens their sustainability by undermining fisheries governance (NOAA, 2024). The UN views IUU fishing as a major obstacle to sustainable development and a direct threat to global food security (Sodik, 2007). The consequences of illegal fishing extend beyond stock depletion to include habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and socioeconomic instability in fishing-dependent communities (IUCN, 2011; Worm and Branch, 2012). In Iran, despite management initiatives such as stock enhancement and regulatory controls, illegal exploitation continues to exert significant pressure on aquatic resources (Pourkazemi, 2006). Previous studies indicate that IUU fishing is shaped by intertwined economic, social, cultural, and governance factors, highlighting the need for multidimensional analytical approaches rather than purely enforcement-based solutions (Colburn and Clay, 2012; Daliri et al., 2016).
Methodology
This applied study employed a quantitative, field-based, and survey-oriented research design. Data were collected over a 12-month period (September 2023–September 2024) in the coastal waters of Khuzestan Province, Iran, encompassing fishing ports, tidal creeks, estuaries of the Arvand, Bahmanshir, and Zohreh rivers, and adjacent areas of the Persian Gulf. The statistical population included fisheries managers, experts, authorities, and licensed fishers operating in the region. Data collection relied on library research, field observations, researcher-developed questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. Expert opinions were synthesized using the Delphi method in two rounds, with participants selected according to the framework proposed by Okoli and Pawlowski (2004). Experts were grouped into university academics and researchers, experienced fishers, fisheries cooperative managers, and officials from the Iran Fisheries Organization, ensuring the integration of scientific, managerial, and practical perspectives. Following the identification of relevant criteria and sub-criteria influencing illegal fishing, prioritization and ranking were conducted using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) (Yoon and Hwang, 1995). Factors were ranked based on their relative distance from positive and negative ideal solutions (Malczewski, 1999; Wang, 2008). Final criterion weights (C1) were calculated using the Shannon entropy method to reduce subjectivity. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and Expert Choice software.
Results
The expert panel displayed substantial diversity in education, professional experience, and institutional affiliation, strengthening the analytical process. Approximately 36% of participants were affiliated with academic or research institutions, while 14% were experienced fishers. In terms of education, 43% held doctoral degrees, and nearly 29% had experience in senior managerial positions, ensuring both scientific rigor and operational insight. Among the four main criteria examined, economic factors received the highest final weight (0.308), followed by social (0.252), cultural (0.238), and criminological (0.201) criteria. These findings indicate that economic pressures are the dominant drivers of illegal fishing behavior, although social norms, cultural practices, and institutional weaknesses also play important roles.
The TOPSIS results showed that “increasing unemployment and insufficient income,” “lack of sustainable employment opportunities for coastal communities,” “absence of alternative livelihoods during fishing ban periods,” and “lack of regulatory updates and reforms” each received the highest weight (0.0421) and ranked first within their respective criteria. Additional influential factors included “lack of suitable job opportunities for coastal residents” (0.0403) and “rising prices and declining currency value” (0.0366), which ranked second and third, respectively.
Discussion and conclusion
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing constitutes a major global challenge, exacerbating ecological degradation and socioeconomic instability in marine environments (Seto et al., 2015). Indeed, global assessments indicate that as much as 26 million tons of fish may be illegally caught and traded each year (Sumaila et al., 2020; Ocean Panel, 2024). The predominance of economic drivers identified in this study aligns with global evidence showing that over one-third of fish stocks are overexploited, with severe consequences for biodiversity and coastal economies (Richter, 2021; Bach et al., 2022). Factors such as unemployment, income insecurity, lack of alternative livelihoods during seasonal closures, and outdated regulatory frameworks play a central role in motivating illegal fishing activities. Similar patterns have been reported in international studies emphasizing poverty and limited livelihood diversification as key determinants of IUU fishing (Montcho et al., 2022). Social and cultural influences, along with criminological and institutional weaknesses, further exacerbate the problem by reducing compliance and enforcement effectiveness. Efforts to combat IUU fishing are often constrained by limited political commitment, administrative inefficiencies, and infrastructural shortcomings (Goritschnig, 2023). Overall, IUU fishing not only threatens marine ecosystems but also deepens socioeconomic vulnerability and undermines food security in coastal communities (Ruttenberg et al., 2018; Roy, 2019; Montcho et al., 2022). In conclusion, the findings emphasize the necessity of integrated management strategies that address economic development, alternative livelihood creation, regulatory reform, and community participation. Such holistic approaches are essential for mitigating IUU fishing and ensuring the long-term sustainability of fisheries resources in Khuzestan and comparable coastal regions.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to express their profound appreciation to the esteemed members of the expert panel, whose wholehearted collaboration and insightful input were instrumental to this study, and who kindly devoted their time and expertise notwithstanding their numerous professional obligations.
Keywords
Khuzestan Province, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (UUF), Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources, TOPSIS, Prioritization |
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| Keywords: Khuzestan Province, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (UUF), Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources, TOPSIS, Prioritization |
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Full-Text [PDF 598 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
مديريت و حفاظت منابع آبي
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Harout F, Khosravizadeh M, Zare P, Shiry N. Identification of factors influencing the occurrence of illegal fishing and their prioritization in the coastal waters of Khuzestan. isfj 2026; 35 (4) :75-84 URL: http://isfj.ir/article-1-2943-en.html
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