Marine Piracy: A Continuing Challenge

Since the peak of the Somali piracy outbreak between 2010 and 2011, piracy has been on the decline. Nevertheless, the problem has not gone away, the figures for the first half of 2017 showing 87 incidents of piracy and armed robbery reported to the International Maritime Bureau (imb) Piracy Reporting Centre.1 Furthermore, piracy is not only a crime in its own right, but also destabilizes economic, social, and political structures. Countering piracy therefore remains an important challenge, particularly off Indonesia and the Philippines, in the Gulf of Guinea, and in parts of the Indian Ocean. This short essay can only skim this complex subject, but considers the nature of piracy, and some of the factors that can help contribute to its prevention.