March 2012. A European tuna purse seiner is the latest vessel to face sanctions under Sierra Leone's crackdown on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The French-flagged "FV Sterenn" is under arrest in Freetown for failing to communicate its entry to Sierra Leone waters as well as failing to submit catch reports.
Fine and catch seized
She was fined US$ 51,000 and Sierra Leone's Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has also seized her catch of 320 tonnes of tuna, valued at around $US650,000. The tuna is believed to be a mixture of yellow fin, skipjack and bigeye.
She was fined US$ 51,000 and Sierra Leone's Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has also seized her catch of 320 tonnes of tuna, valued at around $US650,000. The tuna is believed to be a mixture of yellow fin, skipjack and bigeye.
FV Sterenn was arrested by a Sierra Leonean boarding team on the USS Simpson as part of a United States Navy African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) mission to SL. The arrest of the French vessel brings to eight the number of IUU vessels identified by MFMR since November 2011.
More fines for other vessels
IUU fishing costs the country tens of millions of dollars each year in lost economic activity and Government revenue. In particular, it impairs the life chances of some of West Africa's most vulnerable communities, who depend on fishing for food security and employment. In the past the six months the Ocean 3, Marampa 803, Yuan Yu 701 and Puyu 6016 have all been fined, paying a combined total of over $350,000 for a range of IUU offences.
IUU fishing costs the country tens of millions of dollars each year in lost economic activity and Government revenue. In particular, it impairs the life chances of some of West Africa's most vulnerable communities, who depend on fishing for food security and employment. In the past the six months the Ocean 3, Marampa 803, Yuan Yu 701 and Puyu 6016 have all been fined, paying a combined total of over $350,000 for a range of IUU offences.
4 vessels from South Korea sought
In addition, the Government is pursuing four vessels for IUU activity-the Marcia 777, Kum Myeong 702, the Five Star and the Ocean 3 (for subsequent offences following its initial fining). All four are flagged to South Korea and fled Sierra Leone after being documented operating illegally by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Their flag state, South Korea, and their likely destination, Guinea, have both been contacted to affect an arrest and return of the vessels. Alongside these enforcement measures, MFMR is tightening rules governing the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems by licensed vessels and is reforming its fisheries observer programme.
In addition, the Government is pursuing four vessels for IUU activity-the Marcia 777, Kum Myeong 702, the Five Star and the Ocean 3 (for subsequent offences following its initial fining). All four are flagged to South Korea and fled Sierra Leone after being documented operating illegally by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Their flag state, South Korea, and their likely destination, Guinea, have both been contacted to affect an arrest and return of the vessels. Alongside these enforcement measures, MFMR is tightening rules governing the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems by licensed vessels and is reforming its fisheries observer programme.
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