It is found that Africa’s domestic fishing grounds are protected under international law. Then how come the foreign fishing fleets continue to exploit Africa’s waters and cause huge social and economic losses for the region each year. It is observed that each day hundreds of unlicensed fishing vessels enter African waters and trawl for shrimp, sardines, tuna, and mackerel.
Poaching by foreign fishing fleets cost Africa some $1 bn a year. The 2005 study by DFID, the UK government’s official aid agency revealed that it is not just an African problem. Arona Soumare, Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation director for West Africa opined that even developed states with substantial marine security forces struggle to keep unlicensed fishing vessels from their waters.
Under various national and international agreements, boats must be licensed. They must not take more fish than the set quota and they must keep away from protected areas. Andre Standing, a senior researcher at the South African Institute of Security Studies, said that to enforce the rules, governments need equipment — patrol boats, aerial surveillance and monitoring systems.
Experts suggest that the solution lies in better cooperation among governments, especially sharing information and equipment. Chimatiro opined that no single country can effectively guard its territorial waters without working together with others.
