Guinea-Bissau seeks to strengthen efforts to combat illegal fishing and develop its maritime surveillance system.

Written by: Badr Ahmed

The Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau continues its efforts to strengthen the protection of its marine resources by developing an integrated strategy to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (INN), which contributes to the preservation of fish stocks, the strengthening of maritime security and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources.

In this context, an expanded coordination meeting was held with the participation of officials and experts representing a number of relevant ministries and government institutions, including the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, the Ministry of Environment and Biodiversity, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Regional Administration, and the Ministry of Transport, with the aim of unifying efforts and developing more effective mechanisms to address the challenges of illegal fishing.

The government of Guinea-Bissau is looking to strengthen efforts to combat poaching.

During the meeting, participants discussed a number of priority issues, including developing the monitoring and inspection system for fishing activities in territorial waters, enhancing coordination between the competent authorities to implement the laws and regulations governing the sector, as well as improving procedures for monitoring ships operating in the maritime field, in order to limit illegal fishing practices that threaten fish stocks and negatively affect the national economy.

The meeting also addressed ways to enhance the security and safety of maritime navigation, and to raise the readiness of the competent authorities to monitor the coasts and territorial waters, in addition to reviewing the procedures that would protect fish resources and preserve marine biodiversity, within the framework of commitment to international agreements and standards related to the sustainable management of fisheries.

The participants also discussed mechanisms to support cooperation between security and maritime institutions to combat maritime crimes, primarily maritime piracy and illegal activities related to the exploitation of marine resources, in order to enhance security and stability within the waters under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

This meeting comes as part of the government’s efforts to develop the maritime governance system and raise the efficiency of national institutions concerned with managing the fishing sector, by enhancing information exchange, modernizing control mechanisms, and providing a more effective environment for protecting marine resources, thus ensuring their sustainability for future generations and supporting the contribution of the fishing sector to achieving economic and social development.

These moves reflect the commitment of the Government of Guinea-Bissau to promoting good management of marine resources and addressing various forms of illegal fishing, as one of the key pillars of protecting the marine environment, supporting food security, and promoting sustainable economic growth in the country.