International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing observed on 5 June

Key facts

• The International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is observed annually on 5 June to highlight the impact of unsustainable fishing on world fish stocks and food security.
• The United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed the day in December 2017, following a proposal initiated by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• The date 5 June marks the anniversary of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) entering into force, which is the first legally-binding international treaty specifically dedicated to combating IUU fishing.
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), IUU fishing is responsible for the annual loss of 11 to 26 million tonnes of fish, valued at an estimated 10 to 23 billion USD.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which prohibits subsidies for vessels and operators engaged in IUU fishing, officially entered into force on 15 September 2025.