African nations decry lose revenue to illegal fish poaching

African nations have decried loss of millions of dollars in foreign exchange to illegal fish poaching in the continent’s oceans and seas.

The position of the continent was reached at the just concluded conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations, AAMA, in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, in Abuja.

The conference pointed out that the danger posed by foreigners who sail into the continents oceans and seas to poach unhindered has become worrisome and stressed the need for urgent measures to be taken.

The position of the continent is contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the conference and they agreed on the need to strengthen the legal and governance framework for monitoring and control of fishing activities on a national and regional basis. 

The conference also stressed the need for governments to urgently develop measures in addition to the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO (an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger), guidelines to protect our exclusive economic zone and territorial waters from illegal, unlawful unreported fishing by foreign fishing trawlers.

It also charged members to re-enforce regional cooperation and coordination, enhance information sharing and regulatory governance among members to combat the menace of piracy and other maritime crimes while maintaining a balance between security and the facilitation of global trade.

Other decisions reached at the end of the conference are:

That, African countries must have the political will to achieve inclusive participation in global trade by facilitation of trade through transparency, simplicity of trade documentation and procedures elimination or reduction of red-tapes, bureaucracy and adequacy of and implementation of applicable laws

“The IMO affirmed its readiness to support Maritime Administrations in Africa in combating security challenges, and in building human capacity equipped to implement, monitor and enforce international instruments. 

“The IMO will support, when possible, regular meetings of Heads of Maritime Administrations in Africa, at frequencies to be determined by the AAMA. 

“President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON noted that Heads of State and Governments of the African Union have resolved to make the maritime sector a major driver for economic development. The Vice President affirmed that the Nigerian government recently approved a new maritime architectural framework that will effectively make the waters of Nigeria free from pirates and also improve international trade. In addition, Government will also strengthen defence to protect and safeguard business.

“The African Union Commission has set aside 25^th July of every year as Africa’s Day of the Seas and Oceans. Maritime Administrations are encouraged to institutionalize this day to raise awareness amongst stakeholders of the strategic importance of maritime governance for sustainable development; highlight the important role Africa needs to play at international maritime forum; raise awareness on Africa’s “Blue Economy” and enhance the focus on maritime safety, security, maritime environment protection and human element.

“Maritime Administrations are urged to devote concerted effort and planning to pursue the following: Enhancement of wealth creation, and regional and international trade performance through maritime-centric capacity and capability building and minimization of environmental damage and expedited recovery from catastrophic events, prevention of hostile and criminal acts at sea, and coordination/harmonization of the prosecution of offenders.”

I also stressed the need for population protection which includes assets and critical infrastructure from maritime pollution and prevention of dumping of toxic and nuclear waste and improvement of Integrated Coastal Zone/Area Management in Africa.