Abstract

This IS is about Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing (IUU) by the Chinese Deepwater Fishing Fleet (DWF) in and around the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador in the late 2010s to early 2020s. Starting in roughly 2018, a huge fleet of hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels, complete with tankers, refrigerator ships, and any other vessel needed to keep fishing boats operational for months on end appeared by the Galapagos Islands, cruising between those islands and northern Chile in search of Jumbo Squid. Chinese fishing boats have a long history of causing mischief, most notably in the South China Sea, but their activities have a global range. IUU by the Chinese DWF is most studied in the South China Sea, and significantly less studied in South America. The goal of this IS is to help fill the gap in literature on this topic. By creating historical case studies of three of the Latin American countries most affected by Chinese IUU we can better understand the consequences of leaving IUU unchecked and explore how states are able to resolve problems with larger states without violence. Each of the countries that are studied used a different strategy to combat IUU, and each country had a different level of success. Ultimately, the evidence shows that Ecuador’s strategy of bilateral diplomacy backed by shows of resolve is the best way to resolve fisheries disputes in the 21st century.

Advisor

Sene, Ibra

Department

Global and International Studies

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Economics | Environmental Studies | History | International Relations | Latin American History | Life Sciences | Political History

Keywords

IUU, Illegal Fishing, Pesca INDNR, Fishing, EEZ

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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