Report
Stop Illegal Fishing in Southern Africa
As fish stocks decline and the demand for fish and seafood increases, illegal fishing and the trade of illegal fish is becoming an increasingly attractive option for some operators. At the same time governments around the world are working together to tighten the controls on fishing vessels, fishing activities, the transport of fish and the trade of fish in an effort to stop illegal fishing and to better manage their fishery resources.
Globally we are still falling short of achieving this and without doubt illegal fishing activities and other supporting illegal actions are taking place every minute in every ocean of the world. The potential consequences of this are big, and they are well documented in various articles in this publication. Losses in income, livelihood options, food security as well as environmental damage are some of the repercussions of illegal fishing. Outcomes that counteract development achievements and make progress in reaching development targets move further out of reach.
On 23 May 2002, the Hon. Minister Valli Moosa of South Africa raised a strong concern about illegal fishing and poaching performed both by local companies and fleets flying Flags of Convenience including those of the developed world. Along with his fellow Ministers responsible for marine fisheries in the region they agreed and committed themselves to cooperate with other nations and to come together to find solutions to stop this crime.
Since that time much has happened, nationally and regionally – countries have strengthened their national monitoring, control and surveillance systems; vessels have been arrested, detained and fined; regional fishery management bodies and organisations have been formed; and joint surveillance activities have taken place – but still the illegal fishing continues.
Thanks to Dr. Abraham Iyambo, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Namibia’s engagement in the international High Seas Task Force and his ensuing discussions with the UK Government, a new cooperation and momentum has begun. A cooperation based on the spirit of the 2002 SADC meeting agreement, a cooperation to facilitate a stronger policy and practical process to stop illegal fishing in Africa. This cooperation and process is facilitated by the Stop Illegal Fishing Programme – a programme that began in July 2007.
The Stop Illegal Fishing Programme, in its short lifespan has supported two regional workshops; one was in cooperation with countries of the Indian Ocean that looked at the issues around illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and how to move forward to overcome this, while another was on the issue of port State measures. Studies have been conducted to improve our understanding and knowledge of the status and potential impacts of illegal fishing and the impact of flags and ports of non-compliance on the region. A revealing study on the status of the implementation of the International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) in each Southern African country led to assistance in three countries to progress further on the road to their own national plans as a means to create a fundament for regional cooperation. A website has also been established to form the backbone of information exchange and dissemination and create greater awareness of the issues around illegal fishing and the programme itself.
It has been estimated that in sub-Saharan Africa illegal fishing is worth about US$1 billion a year, a figure that has drawn attention to the enormity of the crime and that has driven the quest by Southern African leaders to win back these fish.
The Stop Illegal Fishing Programme has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the governments it has been working with indicating a firm commitment to deal with illegal fishing both at a national and regional level. The Stop Illegal Fishing Programme will continue to support this determination to make illegal fishing history.