NAFAG calls for multi-stakeholder approach between maritime security authorities and local industry players in a two-day seminar on small arms smuggling by sea and IUU fishing and implications on fisheries management-alisa hotel, Accra
On Tuesday, May 6 & Wednesday, May 7, 2026, the Marine Action Platform III hosted by the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre Zone ‘F’ and the Royal Defence College under the Danish Peace and Stabilisation Fund’s Maritime Security Programme for the Gulf of Guinea, 2022-2026, held a two-day seminar on the theme ‘Small Arms Smuggling at Sea and IUU Fishing and Implications on Fisheries Management’.
In all, ten(10) presentations were made by ten(10) presenters comprising four presentations for session 1 and six presentations for session 2.
Presentations for session 1, focused on Small Armed Smuggling by Sea by the following presenters:
- Global Initiatives at Tackling Arms Smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea by Ludovic Payet, Interpol
- Addressing the Challenges of Small Arms Smuggling by Sea-An Operational Perspective by Col. Bondah, Ports Security Manager, GPHA
- Unmanned Maritime Systems in Countering Small Arms Smuggling at Sea-Vice Admiral Issah Yakubu, Executive Chairman, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute
- Combatting Illicit Activity in Central Africa: Trends, Challenges and Prospects by Cdr. Mubapobo Duere Nice, Information and Operations Officer, CRESMAC.
Session 2 on Thursday, May 7, focused on IUU Fishing and Implications for Fisheries Management and the following presentations were made by their respective presenters.
- When Vessels Go Dark: How IUU Fishing Undermines Ocean Observation, Maritime Security and Ocean Governance by Prof. Edem Mahu
- Fishing Crimes: How the Billion Dollar Fishing Black Market Thrived in Ghana and West Africa by Nelson Atanga Ayamdoo
- Regional Responses at Tackling IUUF Within the Framework of the Yaounde Architecture and EIMS by Dr. Amadou Tall
- Addressing IUUF in the GoG, a Case Study of Cote D’ivoire by Mr. Maxine Diomade, Head of the Fisheries Monitoring Centre, Ministry of Fisheries, Cote D’ivoire
- Fisheries Management Measure-Liberia’s Journey so far- Frederick Jonah Varnie, Director of Research and Innovation, LiMA
- Regional References at Tackling IUUF within the Framework of the Yaounde Architecture and EMIS by Dr. Amadou Tall,Senior Fishery, Aquaculture and Blue Economy Expert
- A Practical Suggestion to Enhance Cooperation Among Fishermen and Maritime Authorities by Mr. Jojo Solomon, President, NAFAG.
The Marine Action Platform aims at conducting activities to facilitate high-level dialogues with key maritime stakeholders from Zone ‘F’ and possibly other zones to compose actionable recommendations to foster greater regional coordination in accordance with the Yaounde architecture.
The Yaounde Architecture, a comprehensive multinational framework established in 2013, to combat piracy, armed robbery, illegal fishing (IUU) and illicit trafficking across the Gulf of Guinea.
Source : NAFAG
