Within nine months of launching, the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) has committed funding totalling £220,000 to support six fishing safety projects in South Africa, Ghana, Fiji, Kenya, Thailand and Vietnam. Together, these first six initiatives are directly improving the safety of 65,000 fishers.
IFFS
IFFS was set up by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, The Seafarers’ Charity, and FISH Platform, to fund practical improvements in safety led by fishing organisations on the ground, primarily in the Global South and among smaller-scale fishers.
South Africa and Namibia
The very first IFFS funded project is from the Sea Safety Bee Trust in Cape Town, South Africa. Fishing vessel auditors have been trained to deliver a higher standard of support for safety compliance across the fishing fleet in both South Africa and Namibia. More info here.
Ghana
In Ghana, the Dutch ProSea Foundation is working in partnership with a local Ghanaian organisation called Friends of the Nation.
Practical safety training in local languages will be delivered, and a hazard reporting system established.
IFFS funding will thereby help to save lives in Ghana’s fisheries sector, which provides livelihoods for over three million people (8% of the population).
IMO : Improving the safety of fishing vessels in Cote d’Ivoire
The Ghanaian small-scale fleet consists of more than 13,000 canoes, employing around 140,000 fishers. This project is focused on improving safety and sustainability starting in the southwestern part of Ghana, where coastal communities are heavily reliant on fisheries.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s coastline is 3,260 km long and the country has over 600,000 fishers. The Vietnam Tuna Association will help to enhance the safety of Vietnamese fishers, specifically by improving vessel safety.
Environmental damag : Investigation into ‘harmful’ scampi sourcing
The IFFS funding will support research, improving vessel equipment, essential sea safety training, a public relations campaign and ultimately the establishment of safety-compliant fishing fleet models in Vietnam and small-scale fisheries.
Kenya
In Kenya, Stella Maris will deliver safety training and lifesaving skills to fishers in Kenya’s coastal regions, great rivers and great lakes, to reduce the impact of the endemic risks of fishing in the country.
The IFFS grant will also support a lifejacket rental pilot programme, which will help overcome one of the barriers to their use
Thailand
Stella Maris is also developing an initiative in Thailand which will see 2,300 fishers trained on healthy and safe working practices, specifically aimed at reducing the number of physical injuries and fatalities on vessels.
Fiji
IFFS has travelled even further south on the world map to Fiji. IFFS is funding the Human Dignity Group to assist local Fijian nationals to be trained and certified as fishing crew for improved on-board safety, with the added benefit of economic improvement of local communities. Professional training will reduce accidents on vessels and these benefits will flow through to communities.
