Gov’t Confirms Spanish Vessel Authorised To Fish Tuna In Kenyan Waters For Forex Strength
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs was forced to respond to questions about the ownership of an industrial fishing vessel operating off Kenya’s coast.
Kenyans began to express concern on Sunday, July 28, after Principal Secretary of the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries Betsy Njagi announced that Kenya had flagged its first industrial fishing vessel.
First Kenyan Flagged Industrial Fishing Vessel. pic.twitter.com/u0y78KikT8
— PS Betsy Njagi – Blue Economy (@PS_Betsy_Njagi) July 28, 2024
A quick look at the vessel, F/V Txorri Gorri, revealed that, despite carrying the Kenyan flag, it was owned by one of the world’s largest tuna fishing companies.
Furthermore, the vessel was from Spain, with Bermeo, Spain as its port of registry, and had been in operation since 2007.
PS Njagi clarified the vessel’s ownership on Tuesday, stating that it was operated by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
I wish to respond to the arising genuine concerns over the,
— PS Betsy Njagi – Blue Economy (@PS_Betsy_Njagi) July 30, 2024
FIRST KENYAN FLAGGED INDUSTRIAL FISHING VESSEL and state the facts as follows:-
The role of IOTC is to maintain the Record of Authorised Vessels operating in the Indian Ocean Territory…… pic.twitter.com/ZLAeQJ0lYp
According to Njagi, the IOTC keeps track of all authorised vessels operating in the Indian Ocean territory.
“No vessel can fish for tuna and tuna-like species without the authorisation,” Njagi explained.
“Flag states are responsible for the vessels in the Record of Authorised Vessels and have the right to control their operations and report to IOTC.”
The PS also revealed that the tuna fish caught by the Spanish vessel will belong to Kenya.
“In case of any wrongdoing by a flagged vessel, the flag state is expected to take action as per the country’s regulations,” she added.
Still on the
— PS Betsy Njagi – Blue Economy (@PS_Betsy_Njagi) July 30, 2024
FIRST KENYAN FLAGGED INDUSTRIAL FISHING VESSEL.
Here are several benefits to Kenya and the Kenyan people.
Spanish vessels have been caught using third-world countries to exceed their tuna fishing quotas in international waters.
For the PS in charge of Blue Economy 🤦🏾♂️ to share that Spanish Tuna fishing vessel is quite embarrassing.
— ︎ ︎ ︎ (@ngwata_) July 30, 2024
The specific ship has been flagged by FTC in 2022 for illegal, unreported, and unregulated Tuna fishing. pic.twitter.com/0bmKJDl0f0
In 2011, each country was assigned a maximum annual tuna fishing quota in order to ensure tuna preservation.
International fishing companies devised a loophole in which they use flags from third-world countries to fish within their allocated tuna quotas.
Gov’t Confirms Spanish Vessel Authorised To Fish Tuna In Kenyan Waters For Forex Strength
