News

Angola refuses fishing licence due to IUU fishing record

The fishing vessel Ray has been denied a license to fish in Angolan waters by the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and asked to leave Angolan waters immediately. This is based on its history as an IUU fishing vessel.

Despite changing ownership last year, in what could have proven to be a break from its illegal past, links between the current registered owners Belfast Global SA and the former owners Freiremar SA shed a level of doubt on this: evidence indicates that at least one individual holds senior responsibilities ‚ in both companies.

Freiremar SA, is the former owner of Challenge (IMO 6622642), which is on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) IUU vessel list for fishing inside the CCAMLR regulatory area without a license. When Ray and Challenge were first identified illegally fishing, they owned by the same company, Argibay Perez in Spain, as was the IUU listed vessel Pion that was also in Singapore with Ray in March this year.

Stop Illegal Fishing welcomes this decision by the Angolan authorities to implement their commitments as a member to the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) and a party to the SADC Protocol on Fisheries and the annexed Statement of Commitment on IUU fishing.

As reported previously on this website, the Ray has been formerly known as Kily, Constant and Tropic.

This story was initially reported by the‚ TM Foundation‚ a partner of Stop Illegal Fishing that is cooperating to bring an end to illegal fishing.

The image used is‚ of‚ ’Rey’‚ in the‚ Southern‚ Ocean‚ when‚ it‚ was‚ known‚ as‚ ’Tropic’‚ courtesy of‚ the‚ TM Foundation.