Cape Town – The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries head of fisheries compliance enforcement Ceba Mtoba says fisheries crime is a major challenge that requires a coordinated global effort.
Mtoba said illegal fishing syndicates – who operate in national waters, exclusive economic zones and on the high seas – were a threat to food security, the livelihoods of poor communities and the sustainability of marine resources.
He said the only way for fisheries crimes to be policed was through partnerships by law enforcement agencies, ports authorities and all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the fisheries industry.
“South Africa also has its own fair share of fisheries crime problems. We have certain species like abalone that are targeted by organised crime that forms part and parcel of the global network of transnational crimes.
“In order for us to succeed, we must be part of a global network because this is a global challenge. Illegal fishing and fisheries crimes are driven by highly organised international players and therefore as a country alone, we cannot succeed in fighting the scourge,” he said.
Mtoba said this ahead of the opening session of the International Symposium on FishCRIME, a two-day conference that took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Monday.
Mtoba said the Symposium would put South Africa and the rest of the continent under sharp focus.
Illegal fisheries activities that include multiple vessels sharing one identify and thus violating a maritime law.
Mtoba said it was important for partnerships to be forged with NGOs that are doing work in the illegal fishing and fisheries crime field as syndicates usually operate in and through communities.
“It therefore becomes important that poor coastal communities know the impact of fisheries crimes as it threatens their livelihoods and food security but also fisheries crimes are linked to other much more serious crimes like drug trafficking, human trafficking, trafficking of counterfeit goods, money laundering and that denies most of the governments in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world the tax and revenue that they should be having,” he said.
He said some of the examples of fisheries crimes activities include multiple vessels sharing one identify and thus violating a maritime law; illegal fish that is whitewashed into legal catches, thus violating a trade law and key documents such as fishing licences that are fraudulent, violating a flag State criminal law.
Mtoba said some syndicates use fishing vessels to transport drugs or people, which violates criminal or labour laws. Some owners of multi-billion dollar fishing operations fail to pay their taxes thus violating revenue or taxation laws.
The FishCRIME symposium is a joint partnership between the department, PescaDOLUS, Stop Illegal Fishing and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa Trine Skymoen said fish is very important to Africa and that United Nations figures from 2011 suggest US$24 billion was contributed to the continent’s economy from the sector.
“This is in addition to its importance in providing food and creating employment,” she said.
She said the report also indicated that illegal fishing accounted for up to 20% of fish that are caught without being reported, and that this cost the sector up to US$12 billion annually.
She said, however, that on a positive note, a lot of progress has been made in fighting illegal fishing.
She said this included, amongst others, the development of policies that have led to improved management of fishing vessels that enter ports at various countries. – SAnews.gov.za
