Trygg Mat Tracking

TMT is in Monrovia, Liberia today for the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO)'s 15th Conference of Ministers - a warm welcome from Liberia's Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Emma Metieh Glassco and a chance for TMT's Executive Director Gareth Johnstone PhD to thank President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai for hosting the conference. TMT looks forward to continuing our work alongside FCWC, providing technical assistance, supporting capacity building and forging and maintaining long-standing partnerships in the region to improve fisheries management and reduce illegal fishing.

Meeting the next generation of fisheries experts in West Africa - TMT's Executive Director, Gareth Johnstone PhD, talked with first-year fisheries students in Liberia today at the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) Conference of Ministers - sharing experience and listening to the plans, aspirations and challenges faced by the future guardians of Africa's oceans.

Thank you to the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority in Liberia for the warm welcome to the Conference of Ministers in #Monrovia this week!

🌍 Partnerships are key to protecting the vital marine resources of West Africa. Starting today, Ministers and Directors of Fisheries from the six Member States that make up the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) States (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo), will meet in Monrovia, Liberia. TMT continues to work side by side with FCWC, providing technical assistance, supporting capacity building and forging and maintaining long-standing partnerships in the region to improve fisheries management and reduce illegal fishing. Ending Illegal fishing requires a long view to ensuring cooperation and sustainability of the region's fisheries. Two technical days and a Ministerial session, hosted by President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, will review a concrete workplan for the coming year and deliver the Monrovia Declaration for action on fisheries management measures, particularly closed fishery seasons and the development of a Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels to support the vital work of the Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Centre. 🐟 TMT, together with Stop Illegal Fishing and through financial support from Norway, will continue to ensure the FCWC and other regional fishery management bodies across Africa have the capacity to protect their fishery resources through regional cooperation initiatives such as the Regional Record and ensure Africa has a vibrant and just blue economy now and into the future. Press release: https://lnkd.in/e4DkqUMw #IUUFishing #Oceangovernance #

🌍 Next week in Madagascar, a pivotal steering group meeting is set to advance international efforts against illegal fishing under the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). As we gather to expand support to 11 African nations—especially those newly onboarded—we aim to discuss progress, share valuable insights, and chart a decisive path forward. 💻 This event will spotlight Trygg Mat Tracking and Global Fishing Watch’s Vessel Viewer tool—a recently upgraded resource critical for intelligence-based fisheries surveillance. Vessel Viewer is a resource central to intelligence-based fisheries port controls and a practical tool for fishery inspectors to use during port and vessel inspections. It's enhanced features aim to empower countries to more effectively tackle IUU fishing. 🐟 The meeting also underscores the importance of regional collaboration, equipping nations with analysis methods and skills, advanced tools, and fostering collaborative platforms to protect marine ecosystems, food security, and the broader blue economy. For TMT, securing compliant, legal fisheries and supply chains is essential for the future of our oceans and communities. https://lnkd.in/eWKtzsqk #IUUFishing #ports #IntelligenceLedFisheries #BlueEconomy

Unreported and unregulated fishing threatens the stability of West Africa's rich and diverse marine resources, a vital component of the region's economic welfare and nutritional security, providing sustenance and livelihoods for millions of people. The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO)'s 17th West Africa Task Force meeting of key stakeholders concluded in Ghana earlier this month. The TMT team, including Executive Director, Gareth Johnstone PhD, played a key role in supporting deliberations, underscoring a commitment to enhancing fisheries monitoring, control, and surveillance in West Africa. Discussions centered on fortifying management measures, exploring the role of the FCWC’s Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Centre, and a vital collective tool to combat illegal fishing - a Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels. A Regional Record would establish a comprehensive system for sharing information on authorized fishing vessels, strengthen fisheries management by restricting access to vessels engaged in unreported and unregulated fishing. Success hinges on the political will and commitment of Member States.  A road map for implementation will also be discussed at the 15th FCWC Conference of Ministers on December 11-13, 2024, in Monrovia, Liberia, where TMT's engagement and expertise will continue to provide support. https://lnkd.in/e5eGHzYn Stop Illegal Fishing, #IUUFishing #BlueEconomy #Fisheries #WestAfrica #OceanGovernance

Check out the new Vessel Viewer group analysis and reporting feature! We are excited to continue working with Global Fishing Watch, using technology and innovation to ensure vessel data is open and accessible - building fisheries intelligence and improving ocean governance.

✨ We've got some exciting news to share! ⛴️ Vessel Viewer - the innovative vessel history tool developed by Global Fishing Watch and Trygg Mat Tracking - was announced as one of three finalists for the 2024 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards. 👤 Our product manager for vessels and identity, ShenYan Liow, who will be presenting Vessel Viewer this week at the Global Seafood Alliance #SeafoodSummit24 in Scotland, noted one of the biggest hindrances to addressing challenges in global fisheries has been data sharing. 📊 "Vessel Viewer gathers all these disparate public data sources and applies our machine learning technology and big data analyses to be able to provide meaningful, accessible information to fisheries managers and decision-makers," said Liow. 🌐 Find out more about the award and Vessel Viewer's contribution to the world of fisheries innovation. bit.ly/4f7AYca

Benin, a historical powerhouse in the Gulf of Guinea, has long placed fish at the core of its food culture and economy. The country is committed to building a sustainable and equitable Blue Economy that supports the livelihoods of over 750,000 people engaged in fishing, trading, and processing aquatic resources. These efforts are crucial in providing half of Benin's 15 million population with their daily source of protein, ensuring food security, nutrition, and health for its citizens. This was underscored by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui, during a meeting with TMT Executive Director Gareth Johnstone PhD and Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) Secretary General Dr. Gaston Djhinto last week. The lively discussion explored various fishery management measures that will be tabled at the upcoming FCWC Conference of Ministers in Monrovia, Liberia this December. Ministers from the six member states – Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia – will come together to agree on FCWC’s priority actions for 2025. One of the key items is a potential Call to Action for a closed fishing season across the region, alongside a Declaration of Monrovia that will include, among other measures, support for a Regional Record of Authorized Fishing Vessels. Whatever decisions are made, the FCWC, with funding from Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, will continue its work to strengthen ocean governance and enhance member states’ control over their valuable fishery resources. #BlueEconomy #Fisheries #Sustainability #Benin #WestAfrica #FCWC #FishingForTheFuture #OceanGovernance #RegionalCooperation

⚓Absolutely thrilled that Global Fishing Watch and Trygg Mat Tracking Vessel Viewer tool has been shortlisted as one of the three finalists in the 2024 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards! We are grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to presenting Vessel Viewer at the Global Seafood Alliance #SeafoodSummit24 on 22 October 4:30pm in St. Andrews, Scotland. See some of you next week! 🔗🚢 Try out Vessel Viewer - an open access vessel tracking and insights tool: https://lnkd.in/eaaai_9V