Photo essay: Southeast Asia's overfishing crisis — and the effort to uncover its roots

Various species of sharks, some of which are endangered, being hauled on shore at dawn by commercial fishermen at the Tanjung Luar port in East Lombok, Indonesia, in June 2025.Nicole TungAsiaPhoto essay: Southeast Asia's overfishing crisis — and the effort to uncover its rootsMore than a dozen images capture Filipino fishermen at sea, threatened species including sharks and wedgefish, and hundreds of commercial fishing vessels docked in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 3, 2026, 7:02 AM EDTBy Jay GanglaniA photo exhibition offering a rare look into industrial fishing in Southeast Asia — and its impact on fragile marine ecosystems — was on display at a New York gallery last month. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The nine-month investigation by freelance photojournalist Nicole Tung, titled “Overfishing in Southeast Asia,” spans Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. The work was recently displayed at the Bronx Documentary Center, a nonprofit gallery and educational space.Commercial fishermen out at sea last May, about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Rizal, Palawan, the Philippines. Nicole TungA Burmese dock worker sorting different fish species after a catch from a Thai vessel was unloaded in Ranong, Thailand, in January 2025. Nicole TungMore than a dozen images capture Filipino fishermen at sea, threatened species including sharks and wedgefish, and hundreds of commercial fishing vessels docked in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. Filipino fishermen returning from about a month at sea unloaded catches of yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and blue marlin last May at the General Santos fish port, which is known as the Philippines’ tuna capital. Nicole TungWhile the United States enforces strict laws governing seafood imports tied to forced labor, Tung said more oversight is needed.“Buyers don’t always know where it’s coming from,” she said in an interview on “NBC News Daily.”...