There’s evidence of global warming in the Arctic region aplenty, and now you can add evidence that illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing there has become an international criminal activity.

A report, Illegal Fishing in Arctic Waters, from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows that cod valued at $350 million was illegally caught in the Barents Sea in 2005. “Illegal landings” of Alaska pollock in the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Russian Far East, are estimated to reach a value of more than $70 million annually.

The Arctic waters are home to the most productive fisheries in the world as well the most outstanding marine ecosystems. Together, Alaska pollock and the Barents Sea cod account for 20 to 25 percent of the global catch of whitefish, in demand throughout the world. (Kids’ favorite fish sticks as well as the filets in fish and chips are made from whitefish.) The combination of global warming and unregulated, illegal fishing poses a threat to marine life—from plankton to polar bears.

“Illegal fishing in the Arctic is a serious transnational crime crossing European, African, Asian and American borders,” said Neil Hamilton, director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme. “Cheats are putting short-term profits ahead of the long-term survival of Arctic fisheries.”

The report also examines fishing practices, changes within the industry, the effects of globalization, and existing fishing and control regimes to provide a complete picture of the problem and the roles that policymakers, the seafood industry, and retailers can play in helping to solve it. The report concludes with a list of specific recommendations. For example, consumers can ask for information about the origin of seafood on menus and on store shelves and let others know of alternatives to seafood favorites that are targets of illegal fishing.