Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is considered as a major factor undermining sustainability of fisheries. It occurs in both small-scale and industrial fisheries, in marine and inland water fisheries, as well as in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas. Recognizing the seious economic, social and environmental problems caused by IUU fishing activities, the OECD's Committee for Fisheries, in the programme of work for 2002-2005 launched a study of which the detailed objectives were to:

• Examine the environmental, social and economic effects of IUU fishing activities;
• Explore the importance of high seas fisheries and the component of it which is IUU type fishing activity;
• Identify and analyse the economic drivers behind IUU fishing;
• Provide an inventory and analysis of possible actions that can be taken.

The main focus of the publication follows in the Executive Summary .