The law did not empower to the MFW to judge on violations instead of lengthy court cases. When

it comes to companies and industrial fleets, sanctions for violations include provisions for the revocation or suspension of the authorization to fish and are sometimes as severe as the confiscation of the boat and its equipment. However, on-board observers and inspectors rarely report the selleck compound violations and are sometimes forced not to report. If violations are indeed communicated to authorities, penalties are rarely enforced. Similarly, reporting of violations and enforcement of regulations is largely lacking within the small-scale sector, which affects compliance levels among fishermen. In fact, the level of compliance of fishermen with laws and regulations has been negatively affected by the widespread corruption STI571 cell line in the

policymaking authorities, in the judicial systems, and in everyday local administrations. It is obvious that fish stocks have been depleted in many areas in the world׳s oceans and seas due to poaching, smuggling, overfishing, and violation of local, regional, and international laws [47] and [48]. IUU fishing is most detrimental and most likely occurs in countries where governance is weak and corruption is rampant, such as most developing countries [49] and [50]. This widespread IUU fishing in many developing countries has several severe Etomidate environmental, social, and economic consequences, including unfair competition, loss of biodiversity, loss of income, and even loss of human lives [48]. IUU fishing is a major issue and a source of serious concern for Yemeni fisheries. Such fishing undermines the contribution of fisheries to the food security, to income and livelihood and to the national economy. The widespread IUU fishing in Yemen is one of the major consequences of the weak governance reflected in the weak legislative, policy, and regulatory frameworks. There is no national plan to combat

IUU fishing. Sanctions are not specified for different types of violations and, where stated, are not sufficient to act as deterrents with the level of violations. The drivers behind IUU fishing include the lack of political will to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing, low levels of fines, the absence of effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) activities, and the weak enforcement of the laws and the regulations. IUU fishing in Yemen may occur in different forms. Illegal fishing practices within the small-scale sector include discarding of significant quantities of fish during bottom trawling and purse seining, the use of light when fishing using purse seines, the use of small-mesh nets, and the use of destructive fishing gear (particularly in sensitive habitats such as coral reef areas).