PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tema, Ghana: 16 September 2024
The Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), with technical support from partners of the Joint Analytical Cell (JAC) (TMT, Global Fishing Watch and Skylight), organised a critical regional training program from 11th to 13th September 2024 at the FCWC Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC) in Tema, Ghana, with financial support by Norway and France’s Atlantic Maritime Head Commander (CECLANT). This training with the involvement of the Yaoundé Architecture, aimed to further enhance capacities in the effective use of the FCWC Regional MCS Centre’s system and tools, Maritime Domain Awareness Platforms (MDAPs), such as the Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS), to improve coordination between fisheries and naval forces in the region.
The primary goal of the training was to equip Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) and naval operators from all six FCWC Member States—Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria—with the necessary skills to analyse vessel tracking and remote sensing data. These capabilities are essential for informed planning and execution of fisheries patrols, which are crucial in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
This training built on the foundations laid by joint patrols conducted in the region, demonstrating the importance of regional collaboration in tackling maritime challenges. By incorporating lessons learned from these operations, the training aimed to refine and enhance the operational effectiveness of future patrols, ensuring they are even more successful in protecting the region’s vital marine resources.
This regional training was directly aligned with the objectives of 2024 Grand African NEMO naval exercise (GANo 24) and FCWC’s Strategic Action Plan 2021-2030 addressing key intervention areas, particularly:
Participants will engage in a comprehensive three-day program, starting with an introduction to Maritime Domain Awareness Platforms and platform orientation. The second day will focus on hands-on training in vessel tracking and remote sensing data analysis. The final day will involve practical exercises where participants apply the data and skills learned to support pre-operation analysis and patrol planning.
This training marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation to enhance maritime security and sustainable fisheries management in the Gulf of Guinea. The skills developed during this program will be directly applicable to future joint patrol operations, ensuring that FMC operators are well-prepared to support these critical missions and continue the legacy of successful regional collaboration.
Background:
The FCWC, established in 2007, is an intergovernmental body headquartered in Tema, Ghana. It facilitates cooperation in fisheries management among its member countries, with a focus on sustainable use and management of shared fishery resources in the West-Central Gulf of Guinea.
Yaoundé Architecture was established in 2013 to enhance maritime security and safety through coordination of national maritime forces and sharing of maritime information. The Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO) is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Grand African NEMO is a multinational naval exercise to enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea lead by the Yaoundé Architecture and supported by the French Atlantic Maritime Head Commander (CECLANT).
For further information, please visit [www.fcwc-fish.org] (http://www.fcwc-fish.org).
PRESS CONTACTS:
FCWC
Name: Kofi Taylor-Hayford
Phone: +233201338174
Email: communication@fcwc-fish.org