Market Demand, Routine Activity, and Illegal Fishing: An Empirical Test of Routine Activity Theory in Iran

ABSTRACT

Despite the presence of the punishment mechanisms in Iran’s criminal law to deal with illegal fishing, this crime remains a major problem in the country, threatening the sustainability of the targeted species and affecting the livelihoods of the communities that depend on it as a significant source of protein. Applying the lens of environmental criminology, specifically the routine activities approach, this research seeks to examine the major driving factors of illegal fishing in the Mazandaran Province in Iran. Data for this study were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to villagers in the city of Fereydunkenar. Using proportionated stratified random sampling, we collected data from 400 respondents on various variables designed to measure the routine activities constructs. Nearly 53% of respondents engaged in fishing without a license. Structural equation models indicate that the presence of a capable guardian, the presence of the economically motivated offender, and market demand had the greatest influence on illegal fishing. The market demand had significant direct effect on the economically motivated offender, who then engaged in illegal fishing. Policy implications are discussed in light of these findings.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Notes

¹. The name of the only authorized fishing cooperative in Fereydonkenar County.

². A specific type of fishing trap in Fereydonkenar County which is mainly used by illegal fishermen.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Ahmad Mir Mohamad Tabar

S. Ahmad Mir Mohamad Tabar holds a PhD in Sociology from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and a Master of Social Sciences from Mazandaran University. He has published several papers on green crime and economic sociology. His area of interest is environmental sociology, green crime, wildlife consumption and trade.

Gohar A. Petrossian

Dr. Gohar Petrossian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, and the Director of the International Crime and Justice Master’s Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is a quantitative researcher and crime scientist, and her research focuses on testing the application of environmental criminology and opportunity theories of crime, with a particular focus on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Dr. Petrossian is the author of the book The Last Fish Swimming: The Global Crime of Illegal Fishing (Global Crime and Justice Series. ABC-CLIO, LLC, Praeger Imprint) published in 2019.

Mohammad Mazlom Khorasani

Mohammad Mazlom Khorasani. is a Professor of Sociology at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Dr. Mazlom Khorasani’s areas of interest center on sociology of family and sociology of deviance.

Mohsen Noghani

Mohsen Noghani. is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Dr. Noghani’s areas of interest center on sociology of education and sociology of organization.