Sea Shepherd vs. IUU Fishing: A Decade of Action and Impact

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses an incredible threat to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities worldwide. Since 2016, Sea Shepherd has actively partnered with African coastal nations to combat this pervasive issue.

Sea Shepherd collaborates with national authorities to enhance surveillance and enforcement in African waters. Sea Shepherd has provided civilian offshore patrol vessels, operational crews, and fuel, empowering local enforcement agencies to uphold fisheries laws. These initiatives include:

• Operation Albacore: Launched in April 2016 in partnership with Gabon, this operation expanded to São Tomé and Príncipe, leading to the inspection of over 40 vessels and the arrest of five for illegal fishing activities.
• Operation Jodari: Beginning in January 2018 with the Tanzanian government, this campaign resulted in multiple arrests for violating shark finning laws and labor abuse.

Africa's coastal waters are rich in biodiversity, hosting numerous fish species, sharks, whales, and dolphins. Many of these areas lack the resources to monitor and protect marine environments, making them vulnerable to IUU fishing. This illegal activity not only depletes fish stocks but also threatens the entire marine ecosystem.

Sea Shepherd is dedicated to expanding its efforts by forging new government partnerships, aiming to cover and protect more of these incredibly critical coastlines across the globe.

We know that through collaborative efforts with governments and local authorities we can protect, conserve and defend these vital ocean ecosystems that the world's health depends on.

To learn more about our efforts in Africa visit: DefenceWeb

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