Madagascar to Host Fourth Steering Group Meeting on Intelligence-Led Fisheries Port Controls
African port States can face challenges in gaining a clear understanding of foreign fishing vessel activity — both before vessels arrive and their use of local ports. Since 2020, TMT and Global Fishing Watch have co-implemented a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded programme “Supporting Effective Implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) in Africa: Intelligence-Led Fisheries Port Controls.” This programme aims to bolster countries’ efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through data-driven analysis and enhanced port controls.
Next week, the fourth Steering Group meeting of this programme will take place in Antananarivo, Madagascar under the aegis of the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy’s Fisheries Surveillance Centre. Representatives from key organizations have been invited to attend, including FAO who are responsible for PSMA implementation.
Building on Progress and Expanding Impact
The upcoming meeting marks the first gathering since the programme expanded beyond its pilot phase, which concluded with the third Steering Group meeting in Côte d’Ivoire in December 2023. The pilot phase originally supported four countries in East and West Africa, developed and tested new analytical tools (such as a new type of reports called Port Profiles and the Vessel Viewer platform) and established a solid foundation for the initiative. Its success has allowed the programme to grow, now reaching 11 African nations.
The Madagascar meeting will focus on continuing support for the newly onboarded countries in 2024, as well as enhancing efforts in those that participated during the pilot phase. Participants will discuss the progress made so far, share lessons learned, and chart a path toward strengthening the programme’s impact.
Highlighting Technological Advancements
A key focus of this meeting will be the promotion of the recently enhanced Vessel Viewer tool, a resource central to intelligence-based fisheries port controls and a practical tool for fishery inspectors to use during port and vessel inspections with a platform that enables anyone to quickly access current and historical vessel identity and activity information. The tool now boasts additional features designed to improve monitoring and analysis capabilities, offering actionable insights in enabling countries to better address the challenges of IUU fishing, beyond port State aspects.
A Collaborative Future for African Fisheries
Port State-initiated investigations during the pilot phase have also highlighted the need to promote intra- and inter-regional information exchange between port, flag and coastal States. With most programme countries already taking part in regional information exchange platforms and MCS mechanisms, the meeting will advocate for streamlining regional cooperation and communication routines as part of PSMA implementation, regarding vessel document verification.
This steering group meeting represents a critical step in reinforcing regional efforts under the PSMA in Africa. By equipping nations with cutting-edge tools and promoting the use of collaborative platforms, the programme strengthens the fight against illegal fishing, safeguarding marine ecosystems, food security, and the broader blue economy.
Source : TMT
