Global fishing safety discussed at FISH platform meeting in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – The Fishing Industry Safety & Health (FISH) Platform’s meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 20–21 welcomed members from over ten countries. 

Hosted by the Sea Safety Training Group (SSTG), the event brought together fishing safety experts to share knowledge and collaborate on improving safety across global fishing fleets. 

This was the year’s second in-person meeting, which highlighted several key initiatives and success stories from around the world.

One standout project came from the collaboration between FISH Platform members Leon Mouton and Sizwe Mavundla from SSTG. They introduced the Fishing Safety Management System (FSM), which has become a cornerstone of fishing vessel safety in South Africa. 

With funding from the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS), the system has been implemented at no cost to operators, making it particularly accessible for smaller vessels. 

This initiative has removed a significant barrier for smaller operators, ensuring they can meet certification requirements and improve safety standards across their fleets.

Further success stories emerged from Africa. Willem Buckle, a newly trained fishing vessel auditor from South Africa, is now working to implement these safety systems in Namibia. 

His efforts have led to important dialogues with the Namibian government on adopting international fishing safety conventions. 

Meanwhile, Thomas van Schie of Prosea Marine Education shared updates on the “Ghana Small Scale Fisher Safety Project,” which aims to develop practical safety solutions for small-scale fishermen in Ghana. 

This project, backed by IFFS funding, focuses on improving safety practices in smaller fishing operations, a critical area of concern as small-scale fisheries account for a significant portion of global fishers.

The meeting also underscored the importance of safety in large-scale fisheries. Diavre George from West Point Fishing, one of South Africa’s largest fishing companies, discussed how their fleet’s safety management system has significantly reduced fatalities. 

Similarly, Liam Shelbourne from Dragon Fishing shared how implementing a safety management system has eradicated crew fatalities in their large squid jigger fleet operating in the North Atlantic and Falklands.

Florence Poulain from the FAO emphasized the need to focus on small-scale fisheries, which often lack the same safety protections as large vessels. While conventions like the Cape Town Agreement address large vessels, 90% of fishers operate on smaller boats that do not benefit from these international measures. 

Poulain urged the adoption of the Port States Measure Agreement (PSMA) and voluntary safety codes as effective entry points for improving safety in small-scale fisheries.

Through its partnership with the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS), FISH Platform continues to play a pivotal role in global fishing safety. 

In 2024 alone, IFFS has awarded over £220,000 (US$230,670) in grants and funding projects in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Vietnam, and Thailand. 

These projects aim to improve safety practices in the global south, addressing the urgent need for safer, more sustainable fishing practices worldwide.

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