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.

摘要

尽管伊朗刑法中存在处理非法捕鱼的惩罚机制，但这种犯罪仍然是该国的一个主要问题，威胁到目标物种的可持续性并影响依赖它作为重要来源的社区的生计蛋白质。本研究运用环境犯罪学的视角，特别是常规活动方法，旨在研究伊朗马赞达兰省非法捕鱼的主要驱动因素。本研究的数据是通过对 Fereydunkenar 市村民进行的调查问卷收集的。使用按比例分层随机抽样，我们从 400 名受访者那里收集了有关旨在衡量日常活动结构的各种变量的数据。近 53% 的受访者在没有执照的情况下从事捕鱼活动。结构方程模型表明，有能力的监护人的存在、有经济动机的犯罪者的存在以及市场需求对非法捕捞的影响最大。市场需求对有经济动机的犯罪者产生了重大的直接影响，他们随后从事非法捕鱼。根据这些发现讨论了政策影响。