Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is a serious threat to sustainable fisheries, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of legitimate fishers globally. To address this threat, the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project is exploring new ways to strengthen and harmonize the use of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools, and combat IUU fishing in tuna fisheries across the marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). One of the MCS tools that the Project has explored extensively, is the use of Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) to monitor individual vessel operations at sea. To test the best way to incorporate this new monitoring technology to the MCS toolbox available, two pilot activities were set up in Fiji and Ghana were EMS equipment was deployed aboard tuna fishing vessels. In summary, results and experiences have demonstrated that the transfer of new technologies can be done effectively when there is consideration of the context in which the new technology will be deployed. This includes the strengthening of the national institutions involved, establishing key partnerships, developing the required legal frameworks, and building the human resources necessary for the effective operation of the new technology. 

The Government of Ghana, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) have formed a partnership under the Common Oceans Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Tuna Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by FAO to pilot Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) technologies in Ghana.  The objective of this study is to support a business case for EMS in the Ghanaian fleet, including options for financin a permanent implementation of the system. 

The Government of Ghana, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) have formed a partnership under the Common Oceans Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Tuna Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by FAO to pilot EMS technologies in Ghana. The objective for the project was to support building a business case for EMS in the Ghanaian fleet, including options for financing a permanent implementation of the system. The business case is intended to inform the Ghanaian Government of the capital and recurrent costs of equipment and operations as well as required legislative changes and institutional arrangements necessary to utilize the EMS as an enforcement tool.

This is one of two posters depicting 21 species of sharks, rays, guitarfish and sawfish found in the Bay of Bengal, that was prepared by BOBP-IGO as part of the finalization of a National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of sharks (NPOA-Sharks) for India, under the Ocean Partnerships Project.    

This is one of two posters depicting 21 species of sharks, rays, guitarfish and sawfish found in the Bay of Bengal, that was prepared by BOBP-IGO as part of the finalization of a National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of sharks (NPOA-Sharks) for India, under the Ocean Partnerships Project.