The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has signed a statement of intent on cooperation in fisheries with Russia at the 5th Brics Summit currently underway in Durban.
A total of nine agreements were signed by different ministers.
"As South Africa hosts the 5th Brics Summit, there is mounting pressure on us to not just have a talk shop. We have to gear our energy towards ensuring that the agreements that we sign among our partners will be converted into action.
"This agreement will be beneficial to South Africa for a number of reasons, including capacitating human capital through training opportunities and combating unregulated fishing.
"Poaching has major repercussions for the sustainability of our resources," said Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.
The statement of intent was signed for the conclusion of a future agreement on cooperation in the field of fisheries, based on the conservation and rational use of living marine resources; the prevention, deterrence and elimination of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the exchange of information and data on the fisheries-related issues, among others. These are of interest to both parties.
