FAO Award.
FISH-i Africa
FISH-i Africa is a partnership of eight Southeast African countries, regional organisations and international experts that gathers, analyses, shares and strategically uses information to take action against illegal fishing operators. The initiative has shown that enforcement against illegal operators can happen, even if capacity is low and the ocean areas to monitor are vast. Key factors have been access to timely and relevant information and intelligence, effective information sharing and close regional cooperation.
Last update: 01 Apr 2019
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Context
Challenges addressed
A vast ocean area of more than 5 million km², limited assets, capacity and insufficient access to information. Collaboration of countries that work together by sharing information and generating enforcement actions against illegal operators. Beyond illegal fishing, other fisheries related crimes need to be tackled, such as: forgery of documents, misuse of vessel identity, forced labour, fisheries associated crimes such as wildlife, arms and drugs smuggling. This undermines governance and the legitimacy and potential economic growth of the sector, and tackling these issues will play a part in the future of FISH-i. These criminal acts are a threat to the safety and security of those working in fisheries. Urgent attention is required to ensure that the WIO fisheries sector conducts business lawfully.
Location
Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya
East and South Africa
Process
Summary of the process
The FISH-i Africa Task Force, consisting of fisheries enforcement officers of the eight partnering FISH-i Africa countries, is supported by an international technical expert team and regional patners in their efforts to take national action against illegal fishing operators. Relevant information on vessel identity, history, operators and ownership is provided and shared on a web-based and secured information-sharing platform (BB1). Tools and procedures are developed within the partnership to support information-sharing and risk-assessment for the effective identification and tracking of suspect illegal fishing vessels and the preparation of enforcement actions against the illegal fishing operators (BB1, BB2). Research on the players and patterns of IUU fishing in the WIO, on tools, technology and legal questions informs future strategies against those involved in illegal fishing and fisheries crime (BB2). Finally, integration and communication with the outside world is vital: sharing lessons learned, information about operators and strategies of illegal fishing operators and elevating the issue in the global arena ensures both confidence of the FISH-i Africa Task Force and supports the fight against illegal fishing globally (BB3).
Building Blocks
Information sharing and regional cooperation
The FISH-i Africa Task Force has routine mechanisms to share information on their flagged and licensed fishing vessels and those active in their fishing zones and ports. They cooperate towards shared objectives, which are to take action against those identified as illegal fishing operators. FISH-i Africa uses an easy-to-use and secured web-based interactive communication platform through which relevant information can be shared in near real-time. This information includes satellite tracking data, vessel information on identity, flags, ownership, fishing activities, networks and trade routes, as well as systematic research on illegal fishing activities. Members can post requests and discuss operational, legal or strategic questions. Dedicated face-to-face meetings at least twice a year enable further discussions, analysis, strategy building and planning, whilst building relationships and trust. At country level further information-sharing and cooperation is needed to turn information and evidence into action. FISH-i Africa supports interagency cooperation between fisheries, port, customs, transport, police, health and other authorities to take effective enforcement action.
Enabling factors
Political support from regional champions helped to successfully launch the initiative, maintaining momentum and demonstrating a strong will to bring illegal operators to justice.
Cooperation and active participation by all member countries that is based on trust developed over years in the Stop Illegal Fishing working group. An established technical solution for the information sharing platform/mechanism that is populated with information regularly.
Lesson learned
Regular communication through the online FISH-i Africa communications platform facilitates rapid information sharing and transparency between Task Force members and regional partners. It also encourages more reticent members to ‘do the right thing’ or to ‘respond’. Most valuable features of FISH-i Africa were the provision of access to information about fishing vessels and licenses from other FISH-i countries; regional cooperation resulting in timely communications; advice provided to support decision making in respect to potential or realised cases and increased awareness about illegal fishing.
Lack of action within the Task Force: at times Task Force members were slow to engage or respond to queries from other Task Force members, due to lack of capacity or specific national concerns, at times slowing down overall progress on potential cases. Conflicts between countries emerged if vessels flagged to FISH-i Africa member countries were involved.
Technical support and research
The FISH-i Africa Task Force is facilitated and supported by a Technical Team of operational, legal and analytical experts and institutional partners, such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Indian Ocean Commission, that provide the information, skills, networks, experiences and insights required to assist the national enforcement officers of the Task Force.
Using advanced satellite technology, vessels are tracked and profiles of the vessels, their fishing activities, their owners and the operation network are analysed. In the case of suspected illegal fishing activities, evidence is gathered and intelligence reports shared with the Task Force. Information is fed into a vessel database that will become a valuable tool for risk assessment, control and enforcement. With limited MCS capacities it is important to focus inspection efforts on vessels identified as high risk.
Research on patterns and players of illegal fishing operations, on legal questions, on tools and technology as well as on links to fisheries crime improve the systematic understanding of illegal fishing in the WIO and this information informs future strategies.
Enabling factors
An accessible, available and trusted expert Technical Team – that engages through transparent processes and dialogue was essential to provide requested analysis and support.
Technical solutions and expertise to build a comprehensive database on vessels operating in the WIO including all relevant information on vessel characteristics, history and ownership and to conduct research on illegal fishing.
Lesson learned
The technical expert team provides case-specific direct assistance to Task Force members in the form of legal opinions, investigative support, operational advice, historic analysis of vessels and companies, as well as advice on options for taking action forward. This allows them to do their jobs better and gives them access to support from experts.
Challenges:
A high level of complexity in cases has been the norm, demanding that integrated intelligence and information, from a range of sources, is gathered and analysed, requiring considerable time and resources.
Technical capacity and capability can be an issue, and the integrity of data is reliant on the integrity of the source and reliable inputting of data to systems.
The illegal operators have grown wise to e.g. the use of AIS (automatic information system) data and so now turn off their AIS transponders.
Raising awareness and promoting effective approaches
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is increasingly discussed in international fora and receives increasing attention in the context of fisheries crime and maritime security. However, little is known about real cases of illegal fishing and how resource-poor countries can effectively take action against illegal operators that often work in highly flexible, well-financed networks. FISH-i Africa offers examples of concrete cases of IUU fishing, which can inform about current trends and can shed light on often vague discussions about illegal fishing. FISH-i has also nurtured political champions to elevate the issue in the global arena and to push for policy and regulations that serve the needs of Africa and the developed world. Creating an opportunity for Task Force members to speak for themselves in international meetings has built confidence amongst Task Force members who are now better able to promote actions against IUU fishing both domestically and internationally. In negotiation processes, such as the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), for FISH-i member states to join together as part of an African Group results in increased influence on the agreements made, making them more relevant to the continent’s IUU issues.
Enabling factors
Regional Champions are important to rally support for the Task Force both at home and abroad and to communicate the experiences and knowledge of the Task Force. Knowledge of, and access to, policy forums and international events. Evidence based awareness material developed from the experiences and cases of the Task Force.
Lesson learned
Communication and raising awareness about illegal fishing cases and the actions that have been taken are important to strengthen the confidence of fisheries enforcement officials and to set disincentives for illegal fishing operators. FISH-i Africa has provided a forum that also allows those actively fighting against illegal fishing in resource-poor developing countries to feed their experiences and knowledge into international processes and to be heard.
Communication and policy work takes a lot of the resources that could be otherwise spent on the concrete work on cases of illegal fishing, on research on the patterns and strategies of illegal fishing and on building of methods and tools. Consolidating the African Voice would benefit from stronger regional dialogue (e.g. in regional fisheries bodies or economic communities) that links into the continental process. Synergies between regional and continental policy processes should be strengthened.
Impacts
The information sharing and cooperation in FISH-i Africa has led to successful enforcement actions. Every action has made illegal fishing less of a low-risk high-reward activity and puts illegal fishing operators under the spot light, while giving enforcement officials confidence to take further action. Overall, more than USD 3million of fines have been paid, vessels have been de-flagged and vessels operating under false and multiple identities have been identified. Fishing with forged licenses has been identified and prosecuted. Analysis of how illegal fishing, illegality, crime and lawlessness in the fisheries sector is taking place in the WIO shows common methods and techniques being employed. These modus operandi enable illegal operators to undertake illegal activity, often undetected, and when investigated to get away with it or minimise penalties and sanctions. Features of FISH-i Africa that were deemed the most valuable by users were the provision of access to information about fishing vessels and licenses from other FISH-i countries; regional cooperation resulting in timely communications; advice provided to support decision making in respect to potential or realized cases and enforcement actions; and increased awareness about illegal fishing.
Beneficiaries
The people and governments of the Western Indian Ocean, specifically the FISH-i Africa countries.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 1 – No poverty
SDG 2 – Zero hunger
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
SDG 14 – Life below water
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals
Story
The Western Indian Ocean is home to abundant fish resources that sustain a thriving fishing industry, which in turn supports local economies and provides food and jobs in the region. These resources also fuel one of the world’s illegal fishing hot-spots – destroying the marine environment, robbing national economies, stealing food and livelihoods from local people, and undermining the legitimate industry. In response, seven countries – Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tanzania – joined forces in 2013 to tackle this problem through an innovative approach, FISH-i Africa. These countries had already pledged to take action against illegal fishing, but in reality, with combined waters of nearly five million km² and limited assets and capacity, overcoming the complex web of large-scale illegal fishing was a challenge. In December 2015, Somalia was accepted as the eighth country to join the FISH-i Africa partnership. The countries work as the Fish-i Africa Task Force through national fisheries enforcement officers who collect and share information, and take actions against those identified as illegal fishing operators. It consists of the fisheries enforcement officials of the eight countries, facilitated by the non-profit organization Stop Illegal Fishing and supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts. FISH-i Africa has already worked on more than 30 concrete cases leading to a number of enforcement actions and improved compliance (e.g. with regard to obtaining legal fishing licenses and the implementation of port State measures). It has also provided a mechanism for senior operational monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) staff to meet, to cooperate and to work on joint strategies against illegal fishing due to its flexible and dynamic structure, the FISH-i Africa partnership. In 2015, the concept of FISH-i Africa was adapted for replication in a partnership of West African countries, funded by Norway. Six countries have set up a West African Task Force, following the model established in East Africa but modifying it to the specific situation in the Western Gulf of Guinea. The development of a Task Force is also being discussed in Central Africa and the concept has received much interest in Southeast Asia and in Latin America. The model of FISH-i Africa and its Task Force has been presented at various fora including at the UN FAO, the African Union and at the recently held Our Ocean Conference, where FISH-i presented next steps.
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Other contributors
Stop Illegal Fishing
Stop Illegal Fishing
Sally Frankcom
Stop Illegal Fishing
Mark Ssemakula
Stop Illegal Fishing
