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Introduction The crime of illegal fishing has only recently gained international attention as more evidence compiles to attest to the irreversible damage it causes to the marine ecosystem. Over 70 percent of the world’s fish stocks are either fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted, and illegal fishing is one of the major reasons behind this problem. Fisheries scientists estimate that the biomass of large predatory fish, such as swordfish, marlin, large tunas, and cod, has dropped 90 percent from its preindus- trial levels, leaving a precarious 10 percent to be fished today. Should fisheries re- source depletion persist at the current rate, most global fish stocks will have collapsed by 2050, leaving our oceans empty and depriving millions of people of this critical food source. Illegal fishing also leads to the irreparable damage of the coral reefs and seagrass beds, as well as significantly impacts the populations of nontarget species, such as sea turtles, seabirds, and dolphins. Coastal countries bear the direct consequences of illegal fishing as 90 percent of these activities occur within their exclusive economic zones. Poor coastal countries are particularly affected because these countries have the richest marine resources that are exploited by domestic and foreign fleets, and they have low monitoring, control, and surveillance capacity. The rising global demand and the increasing value of fish and fish products have thus made illegal fishing a lucrative business. Despite the regulatory measures undertaken internationally, regionally, and locally, the problem persists. It is clear that a lot remains to be done to deal with the problem of illegal fishing. However, until recently, the issue has been seen as a fisheries manage- ment problem rather than a criminal act that requires the collaboration and guid- ance of crime scientists. With this book, we hope to fill this gap and to add to the