PORT ELIZABETH - NMMU AND NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT SET UP AGREEMENT TO FIGHT ILLEGAL FISHING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Norwegian government has pledged R50 million over the next three years to assist South Africa's battle against illegal fishing.

A bilateral agreement with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University came into effect last month and includes the establishment of a Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy.

The project is aimed at improving surveillance and combatting marine-related crimes.

The Fisheries Department's Fatima Savel says around 300 students will be trained as control officers next month.

“We’re looking specifically at where the gaps are, which currently… we employ various fisheries control officers but they don’t have the Marine Living Resource Act background. When you look at fisheries crime you cannot look at it in isolation, it’s almost inevitably linked to some syndicate.”

VIA - ewn.co.za