Using International Whistleblower Laws to Combat Illegal and Unregulated Fishing

Whistleblower attorneys Kelsey Condon and Maraya Best recently published a detailed article in the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) on the global effects of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU), and the crimes that follow.

The article, the first part of a series, presents the use of whistleblower laws to combat illegal fishing, which many transnational fraudsters are turning to as a way to conceal their illicit activities.

The article was chosen for publication on the Environmental Law Institute’s prestigious Vibrant Environment blog. ELI is an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.

Criminal groups use illegal fishing to fund their networks, hide drugs and people on ships, and produce income.

A framework of U.S. whistleblower laws exist for both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens, and several apply to those who work in IUU fishing.

For example, IUU fishing whistleblowers can report violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and receive financial rewards under the Dodd Frank Act.

Whistleblowers can also file for rewards under the False Claims Act (FCA). Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can act as whistleblowers and file reward claims on behalf of the United States government, known as “qui tam.”

Condon and Best are both whistleblower attorneys at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto and both serve as Attorney-Advisers for International Human Rights at the firm.

Read the article: U.S. Whistleblower Law: A Key to Fighting International Fisheries Crime (Part One)