Illegal fishing vessels often use destructive fishing methods that destroy the seabed and result in high levels of bycatch. As a result fish stocks and wider marine biodiversity are being destroyed. ©EJF
Local fishing communities in West Africa depend on healthy oceans for their livelihoods and food security. Illegal fishing is having enormous impacts on these communities’ ability to meet basic food, health, education and income needs. ©EJF
In 2009/10, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £50,000 to Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).
With The Rufford Foundation’s support, EJF has further developed its international campaign to end illegal ‘pirate’ fishing. Support enabled EJF to:
• Reach the highest levels of political decision making in Sierra Leone, the focus of our work, meeting with Sierra Leone’s President and Cabinet. The Ministry of Fisheries publically thanked EJF for its ‘contributions to assisting efforts to tackle illegal fishing here in Sierra Leone and internationally’. As a result, the Government announced it will close the open registry to foreign fishing vessels.
• Develop partnerships and capacity-building programmes, particularly with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, and the Coastal Zone Management Programme, which is developing the country’s first Marine Protected Areas. EJF is demonstrating the value of community engagement in fisheries monitoring.
• Leverage additional funds to buy a sea-going boat that will provide logistical support for fisheries monitoring by partner communities, and enable research into remote coastal areas.
• Employ two Sierra Leone nationals to develop our community liaison and political engagement.
• Further develop the international campaign to end the use of Flags of Convenience (FoC) by fishing vessels, including publishing of a new report ‘Lowering the Flag’, and developing a European Parliamentary Hearing on FoC for mid-2010.
• Press the European Commission to address the links between pirate fishing and the EU marketplace.
• Raise awareness of the issues amongst consumers and policymakers, securing international media coverage such as the New York Times and CNN, and support, including from Johnny Depp.
