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Southern African Joint Surveillance Patrol Gets Tough on Illegal Fishers

March 2009 saw the successful conclusion of the first ever multilateral patrol involving the four neighbouring countries of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya who joined together to undertake a one month Southern African Joint Surveillance Patrol.

The South African Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Sarah Baartman’ set sail from Cape Town on 25th February 2009, on a month long voyage during which four vessels were arrested and over ten more were fined or cautioned.

The regional cooperation demonstrated by this voyage reflects the spirit and commitment that SADC Ministers responsible for marine fisheries made in July 2008 when, on signing the SADC Statement of Commitment, they resolved to ‘Reactive cooperation initiatives in fisheries MCS and law enforcement through improved coordination of MCS activities’.

In addition to the inspections and arrests the voyage gave the team an opportunity to share information and technical expertise on their national legislation, their approaches and strategies towards countering IUU fishing and also to consider practical MCS techniques such as handling of boats and jet skis, firearm training and boarding procedures.

The patrol had a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to non-compliance.  38 fishing vessels were inspected over the month and 18 were classified as non-compliant to the laws or regulations that they should have been adhering to. Four of these vessels were arrested of which two were in Mozambique, one in Tanzania and one in South African waters.

This patrol followed various actions taken in the countries of southern Africa to tighten up the controls on illegal fishing and to stop the massive losses from illegal vessels catching fish with no licence.  An example is Tanzania where it is considered that the country may be losing billions of dollars from foreign illegal fishing vessels that have been catching tuna fish in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Southern African Joint Surveillance Patrol arrested a flagless foreign boat some 100 miles off the Tanzanian coast on the 8th March with nearly 300 tonnes of tuna onboard, the vessel was escorted to harbour for further action. This type of arrest is difficult for Tanzania to undertake alone, as they have limited hardware to make sea surveillance patrols, but thanks to the political commitment and policies that are now in place to support regional cooperation the illegal fishers are no longer safe.

On their arrival in Tanzania the eleven strong team were congratulated by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, President Jakaya Mrisho, who personally met with the team to pay tribute to their excellent work as well as to thank South Africa for the initiative and for their effort to in assisting neighbouring countries in the fight against IUU fishing activities.

Here are some highlights from the log of the Joint Patrol. The full report of the Southern African Joint Surveillance Patrol from MCM South Africa is also available to download.

SOUTH AFRICA

  • Eight vessels were inspected on 26 February in the Mossel Bay area and one (Marovik) was fined R5,000 for not having a permit, or VMS, while two dockets were opened for two other vessels for non-compliance.
  • On the 27February one rubber duck and one other vessel were inspected and fined R500 each at Hole in the Wall in the Eastern Cape, one vessel was fined for fishing without a permit and one for not complying with permit conditions.

MOZAMBIQUE

  • On the 28 February five vessels were inspected and one vessel (Millenia) was arrested for fishing without a permit and instructed to proceed to Maputo.
  • On 1 March a fishing vessels was found with an expired permit the vessel was given a warning and ordered back to Maputo.
  • On Tuesday, 3 March, a fishing vessel was detected in a restricted area. The vessel, the Mavimbi I, attempted to run and was boarded by force. The vessel was arrested and ordered to the Port of Angoche and a docket was opened for not complying with the inspector and for fishing in a restricted area.

TANZANIA

  • The Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries, the Honourable John Magufuli, boarded the Sarah Baartman in the Port of Dar Es Salaam in which he stated that he was looking forward to results on IUU fishing vessels arrested in their EEZ.
  • On Sunday 8 March the Tawariq 1 was arrested in the Tanzanian EEZ after initially attempting to run. The Tawariq 1 was found with the radar switched off, no flag displayed, no fishing licence, port registry not displayed and no navigational logbook. The Tawariq 1 was in possession of 298 tons of tuna. The vessel clearly showed signs of transhipment in the fender marks on the one side of the vessel. The Tawariq 1 was arrested; the holds were sealed by the FCO’s the vessel was escorted to Dar Es Salaam by the OPV Sarah Baartman.
  • The Minister toured the Tawariq 1 with the media and then boarded the Sarah Baartman to personally express his gratitude. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania met with the team at State House and thanked South Africa for the initiative and effort to assist neighbouring countries in the fight against IUU fishing activities.

KENYA

  • On 10 March the patrol entered the Kenyan EEZ and on Thursday 12 March four fishing vessels were inspected and three were sent back to port for fishing without licences.
  • On the 13th of March the Director of Fisheries, the Assistant Director, Navy personnel and Mombasa Fisheries Inspectors attended a function on board the OPV Sarah Baartman in the Port of Mombasa.

SOUTH AFRICA

  • On 23 March the OPV arrested the vessel Banzare for not having a permit.
  • On 26 March the OPV entered the Port of Cape Town after a successful Joint Patrol.