The dialogue’s main aim was to increase awareness and to provide a platform to engage a variety of international and local agencies and organisations and foster strategic discussions on key topical issues around fisheries crime, says Centre for Law in Action’s Michael de Lange.
These discussions could provide solutions towards combating this massive problem, recognising it and treating it as a priority crime.
The dialogue further engaged on strategic drivers, such as advancing economic development by increasing the capacity of selected developing countries to investigate and prosecute fisheries crime. Building technical expertise amongst law enforcement officials would fight fisheries crime while promoting a multi-agency and cross-border approach to harness internal and external expertise.
The dialogue includes a range of relevant topics and discussions around fighting fisheries crimes, which occur at high rates and have huge economic disadvantages.
The discussions and information produced from the dialogue will be fed into the training, and form part of post-training support and research.
Attendees included high-level operational officials from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Benguela Current Commission (BCC), senior representatives from Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya and Seychelles, South African Police Service (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) and Operation Phakisa.
Among the issues discussed were:
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The role of Operation Phakisa in the battle against illegal marine activities
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The disposal of seized marine living resources
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The EU and IUU Fishing: The Case of Vietnam
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Implementation of the PSMA (Port State Measures) – value for law enforcement
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Abalone ranching - a model for resource rebuilding and eliminating poaching through a community-public-private partnership
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Strengthening cooperation and capacity to stop illegal fishing and build sustainable blue growth in the SADC region
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Intensifying the battle against fisheries crime: The European Union’s IUU Regulations
FishFORCE Dialogue speakers and role players included, back, Mandela University’s Prof Hennie van As, Prof Erik Franckx, University of Brussels and Per-Erik Berg, Stop Illegal Fishing (Botswana). Front, Mandela University’s Anthea Christoffels Du Plessis, Frances Craigie – DEFF & Operation Phakisa, Dr Motseki Hlatswayo, SADC, and Alf Yngve Friiso, Norwegian Embassy.
View the gallery of photos from the event
Read our FishForce publication
