According to the MSC Network’s executive director Harm Koster, in 2016 the Network promoted effective and efficient MCS to combat IUU fishing. In March it celebrated the fifth GFETW in Auckland, New Zealand.
“More than 200 MCS practitioners, both from the developed and developing world, participated in the Workshop. While several outstanding challenges remain, participant response has been encouraging; many returned home with new ideas for enhancing MCS,” Harm Koster said.
“As the year comes to an end, we are celebrating a busy and productive year and looking forward to the challenges and work that lie ahead.”
He commented that the success of the fifth Workshop reflects the efforts made by the Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand. “The Network is very grateful for the support from MPI. The Network also thanks to other sponsors; FAO, NOAA, Marine Scotland, Directorate of Fisheries Norway, AFMA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada,” he said, commenting that at the fifth GFETW the ceremony for the Stop IUU Fishing Award Contest was held. A project supported by the Indian Ocean Commission’s Smart Fish Programme “Small Pelagic Fishing Vessel License Pilot” won first prize.
“In a side-event to the COFI meeting in July in Rome, we conveyed impressions of the Workshop to COFI participants. In the margin of the COFI meeting, the Network held a Business meeting to discuss the functioning of the Network. A new Business Plan for 2016 – 2018 was adopted. The Plan outlines the activities of the Network. In September, we participated in the Our Ocean conference in Washington DC which focused on combating IUU. The Safe Oceans Network will be a platform for international cooperation on initiatives contributing to combat IUU fishing,” Harm Koster said.
In November, the we participated in the ‘Building Ocean Health’ conference convened by Korea in cooperation with WWF and EJF, where we delivered a presentation under the session “Global cooperation towards sustainable fishing management.”
In line with the Business Plan 2016 – 2018 and with new funding from the FAO, the Network will soon facilitate and co-ordinate the setting up of a sub-network for compliance officers and MCS experts from tuna-RFMO’s. Furthermore, in liaison with FAO, the Network will coordinate the drawing up of two studies; one on transshipment at sea and the other concerning the MCS Toolbox. These activities will carried out in 2017.
