Marshall Islands fisheries agency wins Stop IUU Fishing award

The Marshall Islands fisheries authority has received an international award recognising its work to prevent illegal fishing.

At a ceremony during the Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop in Halifax, Canada, the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority was recognised for operating world class port state measures.

The port state work is designed to monitor and control transshipments in Majuro, the world's busiest tuna transshipment port.

The award recognised the systems in place and the work of fisheries authority's Oceanic Division fisheries officers.

It also recognised its level of transparency and collaboration with technology providers as part of a multi-layered monitoring, control and surveillance programme for the multi-billion dollar tuna fishery in the region.

Since the early 2010s, Majuro developed into the busiest tuna transshipment port in the world, with hundreds of transshipments of tuna from purse seiners to carrier vessels for later shipment to canneries worldwide.

"This is a culmination of the good hard work, cooperation and collaboration over the years with the Majuro port as a major transshipment hub," said Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority Director Glen Joseph, who received the award with some of the authority's Oceanic Division staff.

Joseph singled out the monitoring, control and surveillance "practioners" as well as "the industry, whom, fair to say, have led us to this moment."

The award recognised the long-term collaboration and the leading role that the Marshall Islands has played with regional fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the International Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network.

The award also honours the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority for its work at the bilateral level with many partners such as Thailand's Department of Fisheries and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that has supported the work of a fisheries advisor working with the Oceanic Division operations since 2018.

"This award and recognition is a testament that despite our small administration and limited technical and financial capacity, it can be done," said Joseph, adding this was possible "with the right network and tools available in the region."