The 13th annual meeting of the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO), held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, concluded with the adoption of a EU proposal to upgrade the region’s fisheries monitoring and compliance system.
Based on scientific advice, the regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) also implemented total allowable catches (TACs) for its main species, but it failed to adopt binding measures to ban gillnets, direct deepwater shark fishing and shark finning.
The European Commission (EC), which had tabled the bans, said it regretted this missed opportunity to combat non-sustainable fishing practices, and strongly encouraged action in these areas as a way to push for the protection of the ecosystem.
Meeting participants heard that a second SEAFO performance review found the organization was well structured to deal with fisheries management in its waters.
SEAFO members include the EU, Japan, Korea, Angola, Namibia, Norway and South Africa.
