Nick Pelios
Freediver, Creator
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Nick Pelios
Freediver, Creator
Whether you're diving for fun, for fish, or for depth, the ocean gives you access to a world most people never get to see. It offers silence, wonder, and stillness. But it also offers you a front-row seat to the damage being done—if you know what to look for. The longer you spend underwater, the more you start to notice the things that aren’t right: a reef that feels empty, a boat loitering where it shouldn’t be, fish that are clearly too small to be taken, or entire schools that have vanished in the space of a season. Sometimes, what you’re witnessing is illegal fishing. And while it may feel like someone else’s problem, if you’re a diver, it’s also yours.
Illegal fishing doesn’t always look dramatic. It’s not always dynamite and dead sharks. It can be subtle—nets laid in the wrong place, protected species pulled out of the water, or a quiet spearo slipping into a no-take zone. The truth is, most people don’t know what illegal fishing actually includes. It goes far beyond poaching endangered animals. Fishing in marine protected areas without permission, using banned gear like gillnets or cyanide, catching more than the legal limit, taking undersized fish, or harvesting species out of season all count. Even things like night fishing in restricted zones, spearfishing with scuba in places where it’s prohibited, or fishing without a commercial license are forms of illegal fishing. Every country and region has its own laws, and as a diver, especially one who travels, it’s your responsibility to know them—or at the very least, recognize when something looks suspicious.
Divers—freedivers, spearos, scuba divers—we’re often the first to see this stuff because we’re the ones who are in the water, quietly watching. While everyone else skims the surface, we see the coral, the life or absence of it, and the patterns that don’t make sense. That makes us the ocean’s unofficial watchdogs. Not because we’re out there looking to catch someone doing something wrong, but because we’re the ones who notice. When something’s off, we feel it. And that’s worth listening to. Reporting illegal fishing isn’t about policing. It’s about responsibility. It’s about protecting the underwater ecosystems we depend on—not just for sport or exploration, but for life.
So, what should you be looking for? First and most obviously, fishing in places where fishing is prohibited. Marine protected areas exist for a reason. These are designated zones meant to safeguard biodiversity, restore fish populations, and protect fragile ecosystems. Some allow limited fishing under strict regulation, others are fully closed off to extractive activity. If you’re diving in or near one and see a boat actively fishing, people pulling nets, or spearfishers emerging from the water with catch bags, it’s worth questioning. These violations are common and often go unreported, especially in remote areas or places with limited enforcement resources. Another major red flag is the use of illegal or destructive fishing gear. Nets are one thing, but gillnets and trammel nets laid near coral reefs are particularly destructive and often illegal. In some parts of the world, dynamite fishing still happens, and it’s as brutal as it sounds. The sound of a blast followed by a rain of dead or stunned fish is unmistakable. Similarly, divers have discovered evidence of cyanide fishing—small bottles or hoses used to spray the toxic chemical onto coral to stun ornamental fish for the aquarium trade. These practices are not just illegal; they’re devastating. And they’re often hidden in plain sight.
Sometimes it’s not the gear, but the fish themselves that tell the story. If you’re diving a reef that used to be full of life and now looks like a ghost town, that’s not natural variation—it’s likely overfishing. If you surface to find dozens of fish, many of them undersized or bleeding out in the sun, that’s not sport fishing—that’s a violation. And if you see species that are supposed to be protected—groupers during spawning season, parrotfish, rays, or turtles—being caught or already dead, that’s another strong signal that something’s wrong. You don’t need to be a marine biologist to spot trouble. If you dive the same area often enough, your gut will usually know when something’s not right.
There are also signs to watch for at the surface. Unmarked boats, or vessels that operate without lights at night, should raise your attention. Legitimate commercial boats are required to carry licenses, registration, and display proper lighting. If a boat seems to be avoiding contact, operating at odd hours, or pulling gear without identification, that’s not standard behavior. It’s not always illegal, but it’s worth observing. And yes, it’s okay to take a mental or actual note.
Now, let’s talk about what not to do. This is critical. As tempting as it might be, do not confront people directly. Illegal or not, people don’t like being challenged—especially in places where enforcement is weak and tensions run high. A heated moment on the surface can turn dangerous quickly, and that’s not a risk you want to take. Don’t try to confiscate gear or remove traps unless they’re actively harming wildlife and you’re trained and able to do so safely. And absolutely do not post about illegal activity on social media before you’ve reported it through the proper channels. You could end up alerting the people responsible before any action can be taken, making enforcement even harder.
So, what should you do if you witness illegal fishing? First, document everything you can—quietly and discreetly. Time, date, GPS location, descriptions of boats or individuals, and most importantly, photos or video evidence. If the boat has a visible registration number, get it. If it doesn’t, note the color, size, type of fishing gear, and the specific area. If you’re diving with a GoPro, use it. Even screenshots from your dive computer can help. The more concrete the information, the more likely it is that officials will take it seriously.
Once you’re back on land, report the incident to the proper authorities. That could be the coast guard, the department of fisheries, the environmental protection agency, or a local marine park management office. Many countries have hotlines, websites, or even apps for submitting environmental violations. It’s worth looking these up before you travel to a new place and saving the numbers. If you’re diving somewhere remote or internationally, a local dive shop or conservation organization can usually point you in the right direction. Keep your report factual, clear, and brief. Stick to what you observed—don’t speculate. If you can send supporting materials such as photos, videos, or coordinates, do so.
Sometimes, it feels like these reports go nowhere. And yes, enforcement can be frustratingly slow or nonexistent in certain areas. But don’t underestimate the value of your report. Every call, every photo, every bit of data helps build a case. Your evidence might not lead to action today, but it might be the tipping point for future enforcement, policy changes, or community patrols. And when multiple reports point to the same issue, authorities and NGOs are more likely to take notice. The system might not be perfect, but silence guarantees nothing will change.
If you’re part of a local dive community, consider sharing the report privately with trusted professionals or organizations. Raising awareness discreetly can help others stay alert and possibly gather additional evidence. Just avoid turning it into a social media crusade unless you're working with a reputable conservation group that’s coordinating a public awareness campaign.
Of course, preventing illegal fishing in the first place is even better than reporting it. Support marine protected areas—not just in principle, but with your wallet. Dive in them, donate to the organizations that manage them, and respect their regulations. Choose dive operators and charters that promote sustainable practices, and educate new divers, especially spearos, about local laws and ethics. The more people who understand what’s allowed and why, the harder it is for illegal behavior to hide behind ignorance.
At the end of the day, you don’t need to be a hero. You just need to be aware. You’re not being dramatic for noticing that something’s off. You’re being responsible. Divers aren’t just visitors—we’re witnesses. And the ocean needs witnesses now more than ever. Spotting and reporting illegal fishing doesn’t mean turning every dive into a surveillance mission. It means staying alert, knowing what’s normal and what’s not, and using the tools you already have—your eyes, your camera, your curiosity—to protect what’s left of our underwater world. Because if we don’t speak up, who will?