The Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries‚ (DAFF) will host an international symposium this week that will bring together stakeholders from law enforcement agencies‚ humanitarian organisations and a number of government fisheries departments to discuss issues related to illegal fishing and other fishing crimes.
The gathering will argue that the definition of illegal fishing should be broadened to include fisheries crime‚ including highly organised and well-financed transnational crimes that often go undetected in the waters.
“This event will bring some of the best brains in this field. Amongst them will be experts who will share some of the high profile cases and present ways in which countries and agencies can collaborate to tackle these very serious crimes‚” said Mr Ceba Mtoba‚ head of Fisheries Compliance Enforcement in the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries.
The Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) as well as speakers from the law enforcement arena will represent South Africa.
FishCRIME is a joint partnership between DAFF‚ PescaDOLUS‚ Stop Illegal Fishing and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade‚ Industry and Fisheries.
Mtoba said the symposium would put South Africa and the rest of the continent under sharp focus. “This meeting is a call for a co-ordinated global response to fish crimes and will also acknowledge the important role played by civil society organisations and NGOs in combating this scourge‚” he added.
The event will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the 12 to 13 October. Thirty-two countries will be represented‚ with 19 from the African continent.
RDM News Wire.
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