Sections:
Namibia to lead the way on illegal fishing
DFID to support Namibia in driving political action on illegal fishing in sub-Saharan Africa
3 August 2006
Training local fishers to report illegal vessels, Guinea
DFID is to fund an African initiative to generate political action against illegal fishing at regional and sub-regional level in sub-Saharan Africa. The work will be led by Namibia, a partner state in the Ministerial High Seas Task Force set up to tackle the problem.
Having an exemplary record in fisheries policy and management, Namibia is the natural leader for this role. For some time, Namibia has sought to take such a lead through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) where it holds responsibilities for regional marine fisheries issues.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens a valuable resource that is the basis for some 45 million livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, and could contribute far more to economic growth in some countries.
DFID's Africa Policy Department will provide funds through the joint Defra/DFID Sustainable International Fisheries Team and Policy Division’s Renewable Natural Resources and Agriculture team.
The support responds to recognition by the
Commission for Africa
and
New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) of the massive importance of
fisheries to Africans, and to losses due to weak management regimes and illegal
activity. Likely outputs during the first year include:
- an international Ministerial meeting and conference to define needs and prioritise a future regional/sub-regional (Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and SADC) policy response and actions;
- exchange visits to promote awareness and build capacity;
- sub-regional meetings and mini-workshops;
- secondment of a Training Officer to the International Monitoring Control and Surveillance Network;
- a regional training programme; and
- discrete studies to enhance our understanding of the status and trends of illegal fishing.
The value of illegal fishing worldwide is US$9 billion a year, of which $1billion is in sub-Saharan Africa.
Illegal fishing adds to the already considerable pressure on fisheries and marine habitats worldwide. It distorts markets, subverts labour standards, and supports corruption, money laundering and traffic in arms and people.