From 20 to 25 November 2021, in the framework of the EU-funded Programme PESCAO, EFCA supported the joint control operation “Seydouba Camara” organised by the Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), a regional fisheries body based in Dakar (Senegal) that brings together 7 Western African countries[1] to enhance the sustainable management of fisheries resources in the area.
The operation covered the waters of Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, and Sierra Leone, with the SRFC coordination centre established in Conakry (Guinea). The operation counted also on the Senegalese Navy vessel “Fouladou”, with fisheries inspectors from the three partaking countries on board, and local patrol vessels. EFCA experts participated remotely, given the current circumstances related to the covid-19 pandemic, and provided analysis and cross-checking of VMS/AIS[2] data and satellite imagery.
“Seydouba Camara” is the 9th joint operation carried out under the framework of the EU-funded PESCAO programme, to which EFCA participates providing technical assistance to the Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and the Ghana-based Fisheries Committee of the West and Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), and their Member States.
The PESCAO programme aims, amongst other objectives, at improving regional fisheries governance in Western Africa to fight illegal fishing, to maintain healthy fish stocks in a region of the world where fishing remains one of the main sources of protein and livelihoods.
“SRFC joint fisheries control operation “Seydouba Camara” in Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone was a real success. EFCA is proud of having contributed to this SRFC joint operation aiming at deterring illegal fishing, in spite of the covid-19 pandemic context” said Susan Steele, EFCA Executive Director.
[1] Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
[2] VMS: Vessel Monitoring System; AIS: Automated Identification System.