15° Edition
Overfishing in Southeast Asia
An ecological and human drama
In Southeast Asia, now the global center of the fishing industry, overfishing and illegal practices have turned vast stretches of the ocean into lawless zones. Geopolitical pressures, collapsing fish stocks, and the widespread exploitation of migrant workers have created major ecological and human consequences. Over nine months of reporting in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Nicole Tung uncovered the inner workings of an opaque industry that directly threatens marine biodiversity and coastal communities.
Since the mid-20th century, artisanal coastal fishing has given way to large-scale deep-sea industrial fishing, which affects all the seas of the world. To meet the exponential demand and face the competition, many players in the sector no longer hesitate to resort to used illegal fishing and overfishing practices with devastating consequences. Today, 80% of the species suitable for consumption are fully exploited or overexploited, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Behind this out-of-control industry which is threatening biodiversity, human rights violations are increasing: deplorable working conditions, widespread forced labour and human trafficking are transforming many seas into no-go areas. Southeast Asia, which has one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, is the centre of gravity for global fisheries. According to SEAFDEC (the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center), the region contributed approximately 52% of the total output by fisheries in 2018, representing more than $21 billion. Today it is one of the areas most threatened by illegal fishing practices and human rights violations, particularly in the South China Sea, the Gulf of Thailand as well as the Philippine and Indonesian archipelagos.
Nicole Tung's report was carried out over a nine-month period with the support of Fondation Carmignac. It examines the complex dynamics of industrial fishing in the region and its consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Through field reporting in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Tung documents a highly opaque industry in which access is often limited—especially at sea, where operations remain largely hidden from public scrutiny. Her report explores issues such as the rollback of fishing regulations, the impact on local fishers by geopolitical pressures, and the working conditions of migrant laborers at sea. In Thailand, she examines how reforms introduced after reports in 2015 on sea slavery led to improved labor conditions—but are now at risk of being rolled back as government ties to the fishing industry grow stronger. In the Philippines, she focused on the region's escalating geopolitical tensions, documenting how the growing dominance of Chinese maritime forces has made fishing zones increasingly inaccessible, leading to significant loss of income and livelihoods for local communities. Her investigation into the tuna trade highlights the difficulties of tracing global seafood supply chains—from small coastal canneries to sushi markets in Japan and beyond—underscoring the lack of transparency. In Indonesia, Nicole reported testimonies of extreme labor abuse at sea—including recruitment through debt bondage, withheld wages, and reports of violence aboard foreign-owned vessels. She also looked into the shark trade, where meat is sold locally while fins and bones are exported, mostly to China and Hong Kong for use in cosmetics and traditional medicine. Her work also touches on the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, alternative livelihoods through tourism, and the impact of global seafood supply chains.
Southeast Asia plays a central role in global fisheries, accounting for more than half of the world’s fish production. Yet the region is also among the most affected by illegal fishing, environmental degradation, and widespread labor exploitation—forces that threaten the future of both marine ecosystems and the coastal communities that depend on them.
Nicole Tung is a Hong Kong–born freelance photojournalist whose work focuses on conflict and its human impact. A graduate of New York University, she has covered major events from Libya and Syria to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movements and the war in Ukraine for leading international publications. Her work has earned significant recognition, including the Philip Jones Griffiths Award, the 15th Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and being a 2025 Pulitzer finalist with The New York Times team.
Jury
Olivier Poivre d’Arvor Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference, French Ambassador for the Ocean and the Poles
Candida Ng Deputy Photo Director for the Asia-Pacific at Agence France-Presse Claire Nouvian President and Founder of the nonprofit conservation organization BLOOM
Romain Troublé General Director, Tara
Mona Boshnaq London-based senior photo editor at The New York Times Kiana Hayeri Photojournalist, 14th laureate with Mélissa Cornet of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award Dr. Daniel Pauly Researcher, marine biologist Dimitri Beck Photography Director, Polka
Pre-jury
Tess Raimbeau Photo Editor, Libération Valerio Vincenzo Photography Director, Géo France Dimitri Beck Photography Director, Polka
