News
The passing away of a leader in the fight against IUU fishing
A good colleague and friend to Stop Illegal Fishing – Namibia’s Honourable Dr Abraham Iyambo – passed away on the 2nd February 2013, while on official duty in London. Minister Iyambo, was Namibia’s Minister of Education, but many of us remember him for the many years he served as the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources for Namibia and as a champion to Stop Illegal Fishing through his engagement in the international High Seas Taskforce and his chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community’s Marine Fisheries Coordination Unit.
In his welcome remarks at the SADC Fisheries Ministers Conference on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing held in Windhoek, Namibia from the 2nd – 4th July 2008, Minister Iyambo noted the threat caused to worldwide fisheries by IUU fishing, and particularly the impact it has had on Namibia and other countries in the region; and he vowed to continue the fight against this problem. He understood the motives behind this illegal practice, and the cunningness of the perpetrators, and urged Ministers in the region to find solutions to this problem by working together. It was at the end of this conference that the Statement of Commitment by SADC Ministers Responsible for Marine Fisheries on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing was signed; an output that SIF is extremely proud to be associated with.
Minister Iyambo was a true champion in the fight against IUU fishing, and, when interviewed by the SIF team in March 2008, he proudly recounted how Namibia’s strong stance on IUU fishing had been and remained evident since its independence. He spoke of the importance of strong monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms, and was quoted as saying:
"Illegal fishing is a big issue and it is taking place under the nose of many countries. It is, therefore, the responsibility of us as members of parliament, as politicians, as managers, to ensure that we have national laws, but that we also contribute internationally.Illegal fishing is a trans-national crime. It is a scourge. It is encouraging overcapacity in terms of fishing. It is encouraging the distortion of trade. It is something that we should jointly fight not only as a country but as a region.‚
It was this commitment to the fight against IUU fishing, his vision and willingness to cooperate with other States, and his cheerfulness that endeared us to Minister Iyambo. His passing has left a hole that will be difficult to fill. All at Stop Illegal Fishing send our sincere condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and countrymen of the late Minister.
05 February 2013