History

Stop Illegal Fishing is launched

Stop Illegal Fishing is launched with funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) with the specific aim to support a Southern African political commitment to stop illegal fishing.

SADC Ministerial Conference

Stop Illegal Fishing organise the 2008 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Conference which results in the 2008 SADC Statement of Commitment to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

Partnership for African Fisheries

Stop Illegal Fishing become a core component of the Partnership for African Fisheries which was established with DFID funding and was coordinated by the African Union’s New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

Stop Illegal Fishing technically advise the African Voice at the United Nations Committee on Fisheries (COFI), something it has continued to do since. Bringing evidence-based advice and a coherent voice to the African Group in this international process.

FISH-i Africa Task Force is established

The FISH-i Africa Task Force is established with, Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania and later joined by Madagascar, Mauritius and Somalia. This is considered a pioneer endeavour operating outside of traditional political structures FISH-i has facilitated information sharing and regional cooperation that has led to significant enforcement actions and increased compliance in the region.

SIF is established as an independent not-for-profit organisation

Stop Illegal Fishing is established as an independent not-for-profit organisation, registered in Botswana. A constitution outlining the focus areas, organisational and operational structures is developed. Stop Illegal Fishing has maintained its long-term commitment to strengthen cooperation and coordination between governments and partners. This new status enables Stop Illegal Fishing to attract independent funding to support our work.

IMCS Network’s Stop IUU Fishing Award Contest

Stop Illegal Fishing receive an award at the IMCS Network’s Stop IUU Fishing Award Contest, recognising Stop Illegal Fishing’s major and unique contribution in Africa’s efforts to overcome illegal fishing.

West Africa Task Force is established

Based on the success of FISH-i Africa a West Africa Task Force (WATF) to stop illegal fishing is established with the six FCWC member countries of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. A Technical Team made up of the FCWC Secretariat, Stop Illegal Fishing, TMT and NFDS, is supported by Norwegian funding.

Stop Illegal Fishing, working with South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and other partners organise the First International Symposium on FishCRIME. Bringing together 200 participants from 31 countries the Symposium increased awareness of the issues and considered options for tackling fisheries crime.

Stop Illegal Fishing are awarded the 2014-2015 Margarita Lizárraga Medal. Awarded biennially by the FAO, the award recognises those who have served with distinction in the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. SIF’s achievements were described as ‘outstanding, practical, tangible and sustainable as well as catalytic’ by the FAO.

Investigative Unit launched

Stop Illegal Fishing launch their Investigative Unit which formalises the work we have been doing over the last decade to support investigations into illegal fishing and to bring the offenders to justice.

FISH-i Africa wins Seafood Champion Award for Innovation

Stop Illegal Fishing, through its initiative FISH-i Africa, received the 2017 Seafood Champion Award for Innovation. The annual Seafood Champion Awards recognise individuals and organisations for their excellence in promoting ocean health and environmentally responsible seafood. FISH-i Africa earned the top award in the innovation category for sharing information and taking collective enforcement action to combat large-scale illegal fishing. Its series of investigations and prosecutions has created a strong deterrent against illegal activity and promoted legitimate operators.

African Union Summit

Stop Illegal Fishing was proud to be a partner with the African Union Commission on a high-level side event organized during the African Union Summit, focused on exploitation and trade of natural resources.

Collaborated with the German Development Agency

Stop Illegal Fishing began collaborating with the German Development Agency (GIZ) to develop an initiative aimed at supporting the implementation of the 2016 FAO International Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA). The African Ports Network initiated work in Ghana, Madagascar, and Mozambique to promote the establishment of legal frameworks for effective implementation of Port State Measures (PSMs). This includes fostering national interagency cooperation and global information sharing, as well as building human and institutional capacity to support effective PSMs. Successively, Stop Illegal Fishing has expanded its lessons learned across Africa.

Partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature

Stop Illegal Fishing partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to assess monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO). This research identified significant gaps in MCS and compliance with the conservation and management measures established by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

SADC approves recommendation to integrate the FISH-i Task Force mechanisms into the MCSCC

The SADC Ministers approved a recommendation to integrate the FISH-i Task Force mechanisms into the MCSCC, along with a roadmap for its implementation. This represents a significant advancement for the sustainability of the FISH-i Task Force and opens opportunities to enhance existing systems for information sharing. As well as allowing for the expansion of membership to include the SADC coastal States of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa; and adapting it to inland waters.

Research conducted into corruption in fisheries

Stop Illegal Fishing with the U4 Anti-corruption Resource Centre at the Chr. Michelsen Institute, conducted research on corruption in fisheries. The study, titled “Corruption as a Facilitator of Illegal Fishing: Insights from East Africa,” offers evidence-based insights into this critical issue. It highlights the challenges presented by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the corruption that enables it. The study emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation and regulatory frameworks in addressing these problems effectively.

Collaboration with WWF to support IPMU

Stop Illegal Fishing is collaborating with WWF to support the MCSCC’s Interim Project Management Unit (IPMU); specifically, to provide technical and coordination support, and to operationalise Basecamp as the regional communications portal for all SADC Member States that are signatories of the Charter establishing the regional centre. This initiative aims to enhance information sharing, generate intelligence, and support investigations.

Provided training to SADC States on FAO PSMA

Stop Illegal Fishing, in cooperation with the Nelson Mandela University’s FishFORCE Academy, provided training to SADC States on the key elements of implementing the FAO PSMA. As the first international agreement aimed at addressing IUU fishing, the PSMA outlines the minimum controls that a State should implement when fishing vessels enter or request entry to its ports; also, requiring states to verify that all fish landed were caught legally.

Cooperated with US Government to implement SADC ATLANTIC.

Stop Illegal Fishing starts cooperation with the United States Government through the Embassy in Gaborone to implement SADC ATLANTIC. A project aimed at building MCS capacity in Angola, Namibia and South Africa and to strengthen their engagement in the SADC processes.

Partner of the MCSCC

Stop Illegal Fishing is a partner to the milestone entry into force of the SADC Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC), something the region has been working towards since the 2008 SADC Statement of Commitment to Stop Illegal Fishing.

Cooperation with Oceans 5 for OCEANS VIGILANCE

Stop Illegal Fishing starts cooperation with Oceans 5 to implement OCEANS VIGILANCE project. This initiative aims to support the SADC MCSCC in establishing a policy commitment for transparency standards which will create a framework for a SADC Regional Register of Fishing Vessels (RRFV).