The causes and consequences of fisheries conflict around the Horn of Africa
| Author | Colleen Devlin,Sarah M Glaser,Joshua E Lambert,Ciera Villegas |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00223433211038476 |
| Published date | 01 November 2022 |
| Date | 01 November 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Special Data Features |
The causes and consequences of fisheries
conflict around the Horn of Africa
Colleen Devlin
Secure Fisheries program, One Earth Future
Foundation
Sarah M Glaser
Secure Fisheries program, One Earth Future
Foundation
Joshua E Lambert
University of Central Florida
Ciera Villegas
Oregon State University
Abstract
Fisheries conflict is an underappreciated threat to the stability and health of communities. Declining fish populations,
rising demandfor seafood, and efforts to reduceillegal fishing are increasingthe risk that conflict over fisheries resources
will undermine stability and peace. Here, we investigate the frequency, causes, and consequences of fisheries conflict in
six countries around the Horn of Africa and East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen)
between 1990 and 2017. Fisheries conflict events were cataloged from news reports, and events were characterized by
the date, location, actors, consequences, and drivers of the conflict. We found the rate of fisheries conflict is gradually
increasingin the region, with spikes in conflict drivenby the arrival of foreign fishingboats or international naval vessels.
Conflict was caused primarily by illegal fishing, foreign fishing, weak governance, limits on access to fishing grounds,
and criminal activities including piracy. Two-thirds of all conflict events occurred in Kenyan and Somali waters, with
areas of high conflict intensity in the Lake Victoria region, near the Somali coastline, and in the southern Red Sea.
During this period, 684 fisheries conflict events in the regionresulted in over 400 fatalities, nearly 500 injuries, and over
4,000 arrests.
Keywords
fisheries, Horn of Africa, IUU Fishing, resource conflict
Introduction
Fisheries conflict is complex, underreported, and under-
investigated – most conflict occurs locally and affects eco-
nomically disadvantaged communities. Globally, fisheries
are the primary source of protein for 1.5 billion people.
Developing countries are particularly dependent on fish-
eries (Lynch et al., 2017) and their contribution to food
security (Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO), 2018) and, consequently, to
social stability (Brinkman & Hendrix, 2011). Developing
nations are responsible for more than half of the global
trade in fish products, have a higher proportion of fish in
their populations’ diets, and make up the majority of fish-
ers in the world (FAO, 2018). This sizeable population is
at elevated risk if fish stocks collapse.
The past few years have brought a growing chorus of
warnings about the increasing risks to peace and stability
posed by fisheries conflicts (Spijkers et al., 2018). The
infamous 20th-century Cod Wars between Iceland and
the UK showed that nations can defend coveted fishing
grounds with military force. Fisheries have been
described as the next frontier in geopolitical conflict in
the South China Sea (Bergenas, 2018); the risk of such
conflict may increase in response to climate change
(Pinsky et al., 2018). Johnston (2017) predicted global
fish wars will erupt under rising nationalism. Illegal,
Corresponding author:
cdevlin@oneearthfuture.org
Journal of Peace Research
2022, Vol. 59(6) 890–902
ªThe Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/00223433211038476
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