Rocking the Boat

This report seeks to understand the costs associated with the many maritime threats to the WIO region, examining the most pertinent threats to maritime security today in greater detail. Produced during the global COVID-19 pandemic, this report indicates that the cost of maritime threats is not strictly quantifiable in dollar terms.

Insecurity in the maritime domain has proven implications for physical security, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity, and public health. Moreover, given that many maritime crimes discussed in this report are inherently covert, the full extent of these crimes is not fully documented. Effects on maritime crimes and threats, the shipping industry, and coastal communities throughout the region of interest continue to evolve. This report quantifies the economic impact of maritime threats where possible. It highlights the socio-economic costs to vulnerable coastal populations and those whose livelihoods depend on the sea.