Approximately 20% of fish are caught illegally each year, or over 11 million metric tons of fish, according to 2014 estimates reported by National Geographic. Illegal means of catching fish include fishing during off season times, using banned gear, and harvesting from restricted bodies of water. A concern for environmental groups is that illegal fishing may potentially deplete the supply of fish in coastal waters. The economic impact of illegal fishing is estimated to be around from $11 billion to $23.5 billion US Dollars (USD) each year, with the practice being most prevalent in areas such as Belize and Guatemala, with low fishing enforcement by the government due to lack of funding or federal regulations.
More about illegal fishing: