South Africa and Chile have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that entails the two nations using their resources to support each other’s fishery and aquaculture efforts and develop methods that help both effectively combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in their waters.
“The agreement marks a significant step in the strengthening of bilateral relations and collaborative efforts between South Africa and Chile in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture,” South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) said in a statement.
The agreement specifically seeks to focus on fisheries and aquaculture research, including support for and sharing of scientific advancements in sustainable practices made by either country; exchange of technology and best practices, including the promotion of modern aquaculture technology and responsible farming methods; capacity building and knowledge sharing, such as through enhancing expertise in small-scale and industrial fisheries management, regulatory approaches, and enforcement measures; and combating IUU fishing through joint efforts to address fisheries-related crimes that impact marine resources.
Announced in early November, the MoU comes after both South Africa and Chile individually ratified a World Trade Organization agreement on fisheries subsidies in March 2024 and December 2023, respectively, which among other issues, prohibits tolerating or supporting IUU fishing and bans fishing of overfished stocks.
Both countries are battling the effects of illegal fishing and overfishing, with South Africa losing an estimated USD 60 million (EUR 56.6 million) annually to the poaching of abalone alone, according to wildlife trade-monitoring organization TRAFFIC.
Other species threatened by illegal trade in South Africa include lobster and mud crab, according to TRAFFIC findings.
In Chile, Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean sea bass, has historically been vulnerable to overfishing, though the country has put several regulations in place to protect the species. Even with the regulations in place, instances of overfishing still occur.
Ultimately, South Africa and Chile said they hope to grow the contribution of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors to the economy in terms of earnings for small scale and commercial fishers as well as the seafood volumes each country exports.
The MoU will take time to fully implement, but in the short term, South Africa and Chile have established a joint technical team to oversee the implementation of activities outlined in the agreement and provide a roadmap on how the proposed initiatives can be actualized. Both nations plan to also hold future bilateral meetings to strengthen the new partnership.
