News
Seychelles Minister calls for unified action to change the reality of IUU fishing globally
BRUSSELS ‚The Republic of Seychelles Minister for Natural Resources, the Honourable Peter Sinon was invited to speak at an Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) event in Brussels on the 5th of November 2013. The event featured a key-note address by the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki as well as additional speeches by Gabriel Mato Adrover, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries; and the Honourable Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Gabon.
The event was held to encourage European Union (EU) Member States to take stronger action against illegal fishing. It was of particular importance to the Seychelles due to the country’s dependence on its blue economy; which has been one of the main reasons that Minister Sinon has been a leading voice and champion in the fight against IUU fishing on the African continent.
The Seychelles is a major port for offloading of fisheries catch in the Indian Ocean and the country’s identity is closely intertwined with fisheries ‚specifically the valuable industrial tuna fishery or ‘blue gold’. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has massive actual and potential impacts on the Seychelles and across Africa and in response to this Minister Sinon called for collective actions to combat this plague. Promoting sustainable exploitation of finite resources, he challenged the fisheries world to “be honest with ourselves about where we are succeeding, where we are lacking, and most importantly, where there are opportunities for improvement.”
Minister Sinon proudly informed attendees that the Seychelles was the first African State to formally accede and ratify the FAO Port State Measure Agreement (PSMA), highlighting their commitment to the fight against IUU fishing. He also talked about how he plans to work with FISH-i Africa and Stop Illegal Fishing to develop a methodology and process that will assist the Seychelles Fishing Authority to assess and ensure compliance by their fishing fleet to internationally accepted standards.
Other solutions and options that the Minister mentioned that he felt were important to assist developing countries in the fight against illegal fishing included: a Unique Vessel Identifier for fishing vessels, a practical and manageable Global Record of fishing vessels and continued regional and stakeholder cooperation through networks like FISH-i Africa and organisations such as Stop Illegal Fishing. He did however caution that although there are several ways to combat IUU fishing, “the chain that stands as a deterrent for IUU fishing is only as strong as the weakest link in that chain”driving home how any shirking of responsibility by the flag, coastal or port States allows the IUU fishing industry to remain alive.
His speech reaffirmed the Seychelles as a continental champion in the battle to end IUU fishing, and Minister Sinon encouraged other continental and global partners to join forces and follow his nation’s example. Knowing that we as the fisheries community can no longer remain unaware of what is happening in our own backyards; he urged all to take a very serious look in the mirror at where we stand.
“If we speak with one unified voice, and take unified action, this is an opportunity to change the reality of IUU fishing globally.” Minister Peter Sinon
Notes:
Stop Illegal Fishing is a not for profit society registered in Botswana and a Working Group of the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency. The purpose of SIF is: “to strengthen cooperation and coordination between governments and partners and to support the African Union’s and the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency’s agendas and other community, national, regional and international processes to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in African waters. Stop Illegal Fishing is guided by an Executive Committee.
FISH-i Africa is an initiative facilitated by Stop Illegal Fishing. The FISH-i Africa Task Force consists of national fisheries enforcement agencies from seven countries ‚Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania. The Task Force is supported by technical experts and institutional partners that work together to coordinate the analysis and use of fisheries intelligence and information to lead to targeted enforcement actions against illegal fishing operators.
www.stopillegalfishing.com
18 November 2013