Report
FISH-i Africa: Issues, Investigations, Impacts
At Stop Illegal Fishing our primary purpose is to strengthen cooperation and coordination between governments and partners and to support processes to stop IUU fishing across African waters. In the last decades we have seen the devastating impacts that illegal fishing has in Africa and we are aware that it is only through its eradication that as African nations, we will enjoy the full benefits of stable and increased revenues, employment and nutrition from our fishery resources.
At Stop Illegal Fishing we believe in the benefits of working together to apply both tried and tested as well as innovative approaches to stopping crime in the fishery sector. In 2012, when we joined forces with coastal states of the Southwest Indian Ocean and The Pew Charitable Trusts to launch the FISH-i Africa Task Force we were able to apply this approach. It has been a challenging three and a half years, we have faced both success and failure, but without doubt the FISH-i Africa Task Force has demonstrated that as African countries we can work together, share resources, pool intelligence, and build systematic approaches to bring illegal operators to justice.
In addition to the actions taken against illegal operators, it has been exciting to see the improved knowledge and understanding about illegal fishing operations, this new insight is based on evidence drawn from the experiences of the Task Force and is now being used to provide lesson learning and to guide our African Voice and policy processes.
Stop Illegal Fishing has welcomed the ongoing cooperation with the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in the pan-African fight against illegal fishing and has been particularly pleased to see the model of FISH-i Africa being adopted in West Africa. The West African Task Force unites the six member countries of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) to work together against illegal fishing and FISH-i Africa has enjoyed a cooperative partnership with this group. Increasing the coverage of this network of Task Forces across the continent is key to closing opportunities for illegal operators and we hope to welcome more regions of Africa into this network in the future.
Stop Illegal Fishing welcomes this booklet on the Issues, Investigations and Impacts of the FISH-i Africa Task Force and invites you to understand more about our work and the impact it is having. We look forward to working with you in the fight to stop illegal fishing.
Elsa da Gloria Pátria
Chairperson of Stop Illegal Fishing
FISH-i Africa unites eight East African coastal countries along the Western Indian Ocean, an unprecedented alliance which is showing that regional cooperation, coupled with dedicated analysis and technical expertise can stop illegal catch getting to market, and prevent illegal operators pursuing their lucrative business unhindered.
FISH-i Africa is a Stop Illegal Fishing initiative supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and a Coordination Team made up of Stop Illegal Fishing, NFDS and TMT.