Stop Illegal Fishing awarded the Margarita Lizárraga Medal

The medal, awarded every other year by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), commends those who have served with distinction in the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

Árni M. Mathiesen, assistant director-general, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the FAO, said: “SIF was selected in recognition of an excellent African example of what can be achieved to stop IUU fishing by demonstrating that a lot can be accomplished with relatively small resources through good networking, the sharing of information, regional and international cooperation, and a strong commitment to stop IUU fishing.”

Illegal exploitation of fisheries resources and illegal trade and processing of fish are root causes of poverty and malnutrition in developing countries. SIF works with governments and local communities to create awareness and implementation of sustainable fisheries.

Speaking at the award ceremony Per Erik Bergh of SIF, acknowledged the importance of the recognition. He said: “We rely on the goodwill, dedication and support of many individuals and organizations who are working to tackle illegal fishing. SIF has created a network that provides both practical support and a sense of common purpose."

"We achieve change through supporting the institutions and countries most affected by illegal fishing, by challenging entrenched approaches and offering simple scalable solutions to ongoing challenges,” he added.

The medal pays tribute to the late Dr. Margarita Saucedo Lizárraga for her role in promoting the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and for her productive work in the field of fisheries for almost forty years.

Previous winners include intergovernmental organisation La Organización del Sector Pesquero y Acuícola del Istmo Centroamericano (2013) and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (2011).