FISH-i Africa has been selected by the Blue Solutions initiative as an example of regional cooperation and information sharing that is yielding significant results in tackling illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean.

Task Force members Benedict Kiilu and Kristín  v. Kistowski represented FISH-i Africa at the Blue Solution Africa Forum held in Zanzibar in June 2016. Thirty ‘Blue Solutions’ were presented; chosen as examples of initiatives that inspire and facilitate action towards healthy and productive marine and coastal ecosystems.

The Blue Solutions presented a range of approaches to tackling marine challenges, but all met three main criteria:

• They are tackling challenges to sustainable and human development
• They are effective and have been applied
• They are scalable with elements that are upscalable and adaptable

At the African forum FISH-i Africa was the only ‘solution’ presented that offered a regional solution and had national engagement and as such generated substantial interest.

The Blue Solutions initiative is implemented by the German Development Agency (GIZ), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UNEP Collaborating Centre Grid Arendal.

More information on the FISH-i Africa ‘Blue Solution’ can be found herehttp://www.solutionsexplorer.org/solutions/the-fish-i-africa-partnership.