Western indian ocean loses $1.14 billion annually to illegal fishing and maritime crime

The Western Indian Ocean is hemorrhaging more than $1 billion each year due to illegal fishing, piracy, and other maritime threats, delivering a devastating blow to regional economies that depend heavily on ocean resources. A new United Nations Economic Commission for Africa report reveals that these losses total $1.14 billion annually—equivalent to 5.7% of the region’s entire marine economy.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing tops the list of culprits, draining $246.3 million yearly through depleted fish stocks, hidden revenues, and damaged marine habitats. While modern-day piracy has declined since its peak in the early 2010s, it still forces the region to spend $164 million on protective measures. Meanwhile, illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, and wildlife costs another $330 million in economic losses and social harm.

The human cost is equally staggering. Maritime migration—people attempting dangerous ocean crossings to reach other countries—accounts for $300 million in rescue operations, humanitarian aid, and tragic loss of life. Environmental disasters add another $100 million in annual damages, exemplified by the 2020 MV Wakashio oil spill off Mauritius. The bulk carrier’s grounding released 1,000 metric tons of fuel into pristine waters, with immediate cleanup costs hitting $50 million and long-term restoration expenses multiplying far beyond that figure.

These findings underscore how maritime security threats extend far beyond immediate safety concerns, fundamentally undermining the “blue economy” that millions of people across the Western Indian Ocean region depend on for their livelihoods.