Stop Illegal Fishing was pleased to Sponsor Gordon S Negongo, a Senior Fisheries Observer at the Namibian Fisheries Observer Agency, Namibia, to attend an Ocean Governance Training Programme in Cape Town, South Africa. The International Ocean Institute (IOI) in South Africa, annually host the Ocean Governance Training Programme for participants from around Africa. Mr Negongo, who attended the 2023 edition, has recently returned to Namibia and is ready to share his knowledge and experiences within the Fisheries Observer Agency.

This years’ course programme included a pool of candidates from seven different countries, South Africa, Mauritius, Mozambique, Kenya, Namibia, Algeria and Cameroon enabling an active exchange from different perspectives.

The course aimed at equipping early career ocean advocates to explore the concept of ‘Blue Economy’ and how their work can help to inform policy making and decision-making processes in respect to blue economic growth. It hoped to shape ocean stewards and leaders in the ocean space through training and providing the tools needed for them to achieve this.

The course included lectures and field trips to institutions, organisations and companies. Hands-on exercises, group assignments and discussions are encompassed in the different elements of the programme. A highlight of the programme was a practical exercise in marine spatial planning (MSP) on how different stakeholder interests can co-exist within a common shared space and to collectively create synergies and minimize conflict.

In Gordon’s words “This is a great programme for young professional and early career scientist working in the ocean space: oceanography, marine geology, data science, fisheries, conservation, coastal development, community development, social science and communication. It is a multifaceted programme seeking to apply a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach in weaving the knowledge, skills and tools that are applicable to inform policy in ocean governance and to foster proper decision-making processing that prioritize the millennium sustainable goals.”

He also thanked SIF And FAO for the sponsorship staring that he is looking forward in working to root out IUU and all other vices that hamper sustainable fisheries in Africa and the international waters through the representation of those who advocate and act against such activities.

SIF is grateful for their support from the Oceans 5 for the SADC Ocean Vigilance Project that assisted in funding Mr Negongo’s participation in the course.