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A new report from PEW Environment Group on building capacity to close ports to illegal fishing vessels and their support vessels

A new report from the the Pew Environment Group in collaboration with NEPAD, through its Stop Illegal Fishing programme, and six African countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles and the United Republic of Tanzania), has developed a methodology on how to undertake a capacity needs assessment for the implementation of United Nations Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA).

The Pew Environment Group states that It is estimated that about one-fifth of all fish taken from our oceans have been fished illegally or lack any management. Illegal fisheries undermine management efforts to control overfishing and pose a major threat to the health of fish stocks and other ocean life. Illegal fisheries also undermine the livelihoods of coastal communities. The coastal waters and the high seas of developing countries both fall victim to internationally operating companies that fish illegally. At the same time fishing nations and port States find it difficult to share information, and cooperate to track violators and enforce regulations. The result is widespread illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

Port-based compliance and enforcement measures for fishing and fishing support vessels are a relatively cost-effective element of a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) system, and as such they are attractive and effective. The main cost is related to the establishment and maintenance of an adequate, well-trained fisheries inspectorate with good levels of communication between national agencies, including customs and port authorities, and cooperation with regional and global bodies. This core capacity requirement, both in human and institutional terms, received considerable attention during the negotiation of the recently adopted United Nations Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA). Developing countries were especially concerned about the resources required to build this capacity. It is for this reason that the Pew Environment Group has been working to develop a simple and robust methodology that can determine the specific and real capacity-building needs for each country, as well as providing a platform for the development of a capacity-building plan which, when implemented, would enable ratification of and effective compliance with the PSMA.

The CNA report contains the following tools:

  • an article-by-article analysis of the PSMA that identifies the capacity requirements;
  • a capacity checklist organized by main capacity area;
  • an initial capacity questionnaire;
  • a questionnaire specifically for fisheries inspectors;
  • a draft plan to assist in organizing fieldwork;
  • guidelines for completing the PSMA annexes A and C;
  • details on how to perform SWOT analyses (for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and gap analyses.

 

The CNA methodology was prepared by Nordenfjeldske Development Services (NFDS)

 

To view the full report: http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=59601&category=940