Guinea-Bissau | South Korea donates boats for fishing inspection

Guinea-Bissau last weekend received two boats donated by South Korea to increase fishing surveillance in its territorial waters, a government source said in Bissau. The two patrol vessels were delivered to the State Secretariat for Fisheries and the Maritime Economy along with computer equipment, an aid package valued at 118,000 euros. The Secretary of State Ildefonso de Barros, cited by Guinea News Agency (ANG), said the gesture from the South Korean authorities had helped Guinea-Bissau overcome some difficulties in the sector, including inspections in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Fisheries Surveillance Authority (FISCAP) in the Guinea-Bissau EEZ has limited capacity, but has nonetheless been able to detect and deter some illegal fishing vessels. According to FISCAP, since the new government came into office in July until November, seven foreign fishing vessels were seized when they were found to be fishing illegally. For over two years, including the transition period following the coup of April 2012, the territorial waters of Guinea-Bissau went without inspection patrols.