But our US commercial fishermen aren't always following the laws either ... the penalties often are minor compared to the amount of money from fishing illegally for both US and foreign vessels ...
... here is more activity post 1977 of government efforts to contain IUU (Illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing ...
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories...edspecies.html
http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-r...ng-85899449598
http://www.paulengineering.com/srec1...gin_Fleets.pdf
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/iuu_overview.html
IUU fishing is a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. IUU products often come from fisheries lacking the strong and effective conservation and management measures to which U.S. fishermen are subject. IUU fishing most often violates conservation and management measures, such as quotas or bycatch limits, established under international agreements. By adversely impacting fisheries, marine ecosystems, food security and coastal communities around the world, IUU fishing undermines domestic and international conservation and management efforts. Furthermore, IUU fishing risks the sustainability of a multi-billion-dollar U.S. industry.