Risky facilities - Illegal fishing in the natural environment
This presentation explores the extent to which a risky facilities framing can be applied to natural features of the environment that provide accessible and attractive places for wildlife crime. Drawing on empirical studies examining illegal fishing in protected areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia, it demonstrates the spatial distribution of illegal activity in the reef aligns with the iron law of concentration. The presentation outlines the social, biological and natural features of the environment that facilitate accessibility and attractiveness of hotspots applying concepts of crime generators, crime attractors and distance-decay (applied to offender target selection).  It concludes by considering the benefits of adopting a risky facilities framing for wildlife crime and implications for prevention.