Three Kenyan fishermen arrested over illegal fishing of sharks in Madagascar

Loading Article...

For the best experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

ITF Mombasa port inspector Betty Makena. [File, Standard]

Madagascar is home to nearly 80 species of sharks, 37 of which are threatened and listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

Despite efforts to combat illegal fishing, sharks continue to be targeted for their fins which are valued at about Sh7,000 per kilo on the world market.

Kenya has recently taken several steps to crack down on illegal fishing to grow its ocean economy.

In mid-March 2022, the country ratified the Cape Town Agreement (CTA) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW-F) for Seafarers.

The CTA, adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2012, specifies standards and regulations for fishing vessels to protect crews and fishing observers, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Kenya is also building a DNA database for its marine species to conserve its maritime resources in the face of widespread illegal fishing.

The exercise involves collecting species and cataloging them to help the government prosecute cases of illegal fishing within its territorial waters.

Since the programme began in 2022, Kenya has produced barcodes for about 115 species, including sharks, rays, crustaceans, and molluscs.