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Two Leading Ministers Move on From Fisheries

Stop Illegal Fishing would like to welcome the arrival of the Hon. Victor Manuel Borges and the Hon. Bernard Esau as the new Minister’s responsible for Fisheries in Mozambique and Namibia.

The Hon. Bernard Esau was previously Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy and the Hon. Victor Manuel Borges was previously Deputy Minister of Fisheries before taking up their new positions. The new Ministers have succeeded the Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo of Namibia and Hon. Cadmiel Mutemba of Mozambique.

The Hon. Cadmiel Mutemba had been the Fisheries Minister of Mozambique for ten years since 2000. During his tenure he has taken strong steps towards the prevention of IUU fishing both domestically and through strong support to regional policy development and implementation. In 2008 he signed the SADC Statement of Commitment on IUU fishing and in that same year, a surveillance patrol captured the notorious ANTILLAS REEFER.  Mozambique has also hosted a range of meetings, and will host the International MCS Network, Third Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop in September this year. The Hon. Minister now presides over the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

The Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo had been serving the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources since 1997.  During his tenure he has made significant contribution to the fisheries sector at home and aboard.  In relation to combating IUU fishing, one of his main engagements was as a member of the international group of Ministers that in the wake of the Johannesburg World Summit in 2002 formed the ‘High Seas Task Force’ to fight IUU fishing.  Minister Iyambo was awarded three prestigious awards in 2009, the FAO’s Margarita Liz¡rraga Medal the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa (AASA) Award and the Kungsfenan Swedish Seafood Award. The Hon. Dr. Abraham Iyambo is now the Minister of Education.