Interpol’s fish crime detectives who hunted villains on the high seas – National Geographic

Report on Enforcement Actions Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: The Case of the Hua Li 8

Incident Overview: A Challenge to SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

• In February 2016, the vessel Hua Li 8, registered to China, was identified engaging in illegal fishing activities within Argentina’s territorial waters.
• This action constitutes a direct violation of national sovereignty and international maritime law, undermining efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use marine resources.
• The vessel evaded apprehension by the Argentine coast guard, fleeing into international waters and thereby escalating the incident to a matter of transnational concern.

International Cooperation in Upholding Maritime Law: Activating SDG 16 and SDG 17

1. Argentina formally requested assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), demonstrating a commitment to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by leveraging international legal frameworks.
2. Interpol’s Global Fisheries Enforcement team (FET) initiated a formal investigation, exemplifying the role of effective global institutions in combating transnational crime.
3. An Interpol Purple Notice was issued. This action operationalized SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by soliciting information and cooperation from a global network of law enforcement agencies, port authorities, and maritime operators.

Surveillance and Tracking Operations

• A multi-faceted surveillance operation was conducted over a period of several months to track the Hua Li 8.
• Modern technological methods were employed, including satellite imagery and vessel reports from third parties.
• When the vessel deliberately obscured its location by deactivating its Automatic Identification System (AIS), a common tactic in IUU fishing, investigators reverted to traditional maritime techniques.
• Dead reckoning was utilized, calculating the vessel’s probable position based on its last known speed, direction, and prevailing environmental conditions. This persistent effort underscores the institutional resolve to enforce regulations critical to SDG 14.

Conclusion: Reinforcing the Sustainable Development Agenda

• The coordinated pursuit of the Hua Li 8 serves as a case study in the global effort to combat IUU fishing, a primary obstacle to achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• The effective collaboration between a national authority (Argentina) and a global institution (Interpol) highlights the practical application of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Such enforcement actions are essential for protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring economic stability for coastal communities, and upholding the international rule of law, which are foundational principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the most directly relevant SDG. The article’s central theme is the pursuit of a vessel engaged in illegal fishing (“a squid-jigging vessel illegally fishing inside the nation’s territorial waters”). This activity directly threatens marine ecosystems, undermines sustainable fisheries management, and contravenes the goal of conserving and sustainably using ocean resources.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article highlights the importance of effective governance and international cooperation to combat transnational crime. The incident involves a vessel from one nation (China) illegally operating in the waters of another (Argentina), which then requires the intervention of an international law enforcement body (Interpol). The entire narrative showcases the need for strong national institutions (Argentine coast guard) and robust international cooperation (“Argentina formally requested his help,” leading to an “Interpol Purple Notice”) to enforce laws and ensure justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices…” The article provides a clear case study of IUU fishing. The vessel, Hua Li 8, was caught “illegally fishing” and actively evaded law enforcement, which are hallmark characteristics of IUU activities that this target aims to eliminate.
2. Target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)…” The vessel’s illegal presence in Argentina’s “territorial waters” is a violation of national sovereignty and the international legal frameworks established by UNCLOS. The subsequent escape into “international waters” further underscores the challenges of enforcing these laws across different jurisdictions, a key aspect of this target.
3. Target 16.a: “Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels… to combat… crime.” The article is a direct illustration of this target in action. Argentina’s national institution (the coast guard) collaborated with an international one (Interpol’s Global Fisheries Enforcement team) to combat the transnational crime of illegal fishing. The joint effort to track the Hua Li 8 demonstrates the operationalization of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 14.4 (Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels): While the article does not provide data on fish stocks, the incident itself—a “squid-jigging vessel illegally fishing”—serves as a qualitative indicator of threats to the sustainability of squid populations. Each documented case of IUU fishing is an indicator of the ongoing problem that Target 14.4 seeks to address.
• Implied Indicator for Target 14.4 (Degree of implementation of international instruments to combat IUU fishing): The response to the illegal fishing incident is a clear indicator of enforcement efforts. The actions taken—the pursuit by the Argentine coast guard, the firing of a warning shot, and the formal request for assistance from Interpol—are all measures of the implementation of policies and legal frameworks aimed at combating IUU fishing.
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.a (Existence and implementation of cooperation agreements): The article provides a concrete example of international cooperation. The issuance of an “Interpol Purple Notice” is a formal mechanism for international law enforcement cooperation. The entire process of McDonnell’s team tracking the vessel based on Argentina’s request is a direct, practical indicator of progress towards strengthening institutions through international partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nationalgeographic.com