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Madagascar Successfully Hosts The 2nd FISH-i Africa Task Force Meeting

Continued cooperation seen as critical to ending illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean!

Member countries of the anti-illegal fishing network FISH-i Africa should build on their early successes by continuing to take action in their respective countries to help eliminate illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean.

That message was delivered by Minister of Halieutics Resources and Fisheries for Madagascar, the Honourable Minister Ahmad, who opened a November 25th FISH-i Africa Task Force meeting in Antananarivo, sharing words of welcome, encouragement, and insight into Madagascar’s efforts to combat illegal fishing.
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FISH-i Africa is a network of seven southeast African nations that have agreed to share information and resources to improve monitoring and enforcement in their collective waters to better fight illegal fishing. FISH-i members countries are: Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Minister urged the Task Force countries to continue their collaboration and information-sharing efforts, building on lessons from the 1st Task Force meeting, held in July in Mozambique.

Minister Ahmad’s opening remarks set the momentum that, with the hard work and dedication of all of the Task Force members in attendance, resulted in agreement among members to:

  • Expand FISH-i Africa to welcome participation from other regional countries, first as observers and then possibly as full-fledged members.

  • Welcome cooperation with other potential FISH-i Task Forces across Africa.

  • Work towards a FISH-i Africa Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Seychelles, including participation from SADC, other regional and fisheries bodies, and relevant stakeholders.

  • Share combined lists of licensed and active fishing vessels.

  • Continue to share information and lessons learned on important cases related to incidents of illegal fishing.

  • Continue to explore the process of standardizing inspection procedures, based on the IOTC Port State Measures Resolution, and share related outcomes.

  • Continue to commission the FISH-i Africa study on vessels servicing the fishing fleet at sea in the Western Indian Ocean, particularly the patterns of the servicing vessels, the impact they have on fishing effort, and their potential role in illegal fishing activities.

  • Convene the 3rd Task Force meeting in mid – 2015.

To demonstrate the importance of what was achieved and, again, highlight Madagascar’s commitment to the FISH-i Africa Task Force, Minister Ahmad re-affirmed Madagascar’s intentions to contribute to the regional efforts to combat illegal fishing, and called on his partners in the Task Force to do the same.

All eyes look forward to the New Year and all it will bring, including the continued cooperation and hard work among the members, the further growth of the Task Force, and the 3rd Task Force meeting and its associated opportunities.

Photo credit: P.E. Bergh