https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29628 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:47:54 GMT 2026-04-09T12:47:54Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101525 Title: Effectively combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a transnational organised crime Abstract: In 2008, former United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, identified IUU fishing as one of the seven major threats to maritime security. Whilst that 31.5% of the global fish stock is being over-exploited, it has been estimated that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing accounts for 20% of global catches. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly also recognised the existence of links between transnational organised crime and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing - today generally referred as 'fisheries crime'. Fishing activities by transnational organised criminal networks ricochet between different jurisdictions, taking advantage of jurisdictional arbitrage, whereby they exploit weak laws and enforcement capacities, making it difficult for State actors to effectively combat them. This dissertation will evaluate the nature of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as a transnational organised crime and how the international legal framework fares against the challenges posed by the dynamic and transnational nature of the modus operandi of the crime. It will also delve into the limitations of the same international legal framework and the nationality principle under international law. The dissertation will conclude that although the international community has sought to create a strong legal framework to reach sustainability in global fisheries and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, it is weak when facing transnational organised crime. The present author argues that the effectiveness of the international legal framework depends on its adoption and implementation within domestic legal frameworks. Multilateral cooperation in homogenising legal obligations and compliance degrees across States, shared monitoring, control and surveillance operations, coordinated enforcement and strategic criminal intelligence sharing are also key factors in the fight against this crime. Through the evaluation of actions provided by legal frameworks and State practice, the present author provides two general approaches that can be taken by States for the effective combat of illegal, unrep01ied and unregulated fishing as a transnational organised crime. Description: M.A.OCEAN GOV. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101525 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29795 Title: The potential role of industry associations in the reform towards more environmentally sustainable aquaculture in China Abstract: The researcher was interested in exploring the potential role of industry associations in the reform towards more environmentally sustainable aquaculture in China. To achieve this purpose, the history and current state of aquaculture in China, regulations and policies concerning aquaculture and the role of industry association in the development of aquaculture in the literature was examined. Then a pool of qualitative methods, including document analysis, telephone interviews, observation and face-to-face interviews, was adopted as the research approach, to understand intentions, behaviors and situations perceived by those directly involved in the aquaculture business concerning the sustainable development of aquaculture and the prevailing role and functions of associations in the industry. The study found that most aquaculturists were not satisfied with the current associations for they do not have a substantive say to government authorities in China, are unable to enforce penalties on offending members and are detached from companies in the industry. In response to these findings, recommendations were made regarding the future development perspectives of aquaculture associations in China, and topics of interest for future studies were pointed out. Description: M.A.OCEAN GOV. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29795 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z