The Regional Legal Conference on Addressing Illegal Fishing in South Asia was held from 17 to 19 March 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Bay of Bengal Intergovernmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), the conference aimed to strengthen legislative and operational responses to illegal fishing.

The conference fostered constructive dialogue to harmonize laws and enhance regional cooperation. Discussions focused on legal frameworks for prosecuting illegal fishing, evidence collection at sea, and regional information-sharing mechanisms to track and deter illicit fishing vessels.

IORA's participation connected this sub-regional effort to its broader fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Engaging in these specialized legal discussions allowed IORA to gather best practices and understand common challenges, which directly informs its own work plan and capacity-building initiatives under the MSS Working Group. This ensures a cohesive and legally sound regional approach to eradicating this major maritime security threat.