Trygg Mat Tracking

Check out the new Vessel Viewer group analysis and reporting feature! We are excited to continue working with Global Fishing Watch, using technology and innovation to ensure vessel data is open and accessible - building fisheries intelligence and improving ocean governance.

✨ We've got some exciting news to share! ⛴️ Vessel Viewer - the innovative vessel history tool developed by Global Fishing Watch and Trygg Mat Tracking - was announced as one of three finalists for the 2024 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards. 👤 Our product manager for vessels and identity, ShenYan Liow, who will be presenting Vessel Viewer this week at the Global Seafood Alliance #SeafoodSummit24 in Scotland, noted one of the biggest hindrances to addressing challenges in global fisheries has been data sharing. 📊 "Vessel Viewer gathers all these disparate public data sources and applies our machine learning technology and big data analyses to be able to provide meaningful, accessible information to fisheries managers and decision-makers," said Liow. 🌐 Find out more about the award and Vessel Viewer's contribution to the world of fisheries innovation. bit.ly/4f7AYca

Benin, a historical powerhouse in the Gulf of Guinea, has long placed fish at the core of its food culture and economy. The country is committed to building a sustainable and equitable Blue Economy that supports the livelihoods of over 750,000 people engaged in fishing, trading, and processing aquatic resources. These efforts are crucial in providing half of Benin's 15 million population with their daily source of protein, ensuring food security, nutrition, and health for its citizens. This was underscored by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui, during a meeting with TMT Executive Director Gareth Johnstone PhD and Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) Secretary General Dr. Gaston Djhinto last week. The lively discussion explored various fishery management measures that will be tabled at the upcoming FCWC Conference of Ministers in Monrovia, Liberia this December. Ministers from the six member states – Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia – will come together to agree on FCWC’s priority actions for 2025. One of the key items is a potential Call to Action for a closed fishing season across the region, alongside a Declaration of Monrovia that will include, among other measures, support for a Regional Record of Authorized Fishing Vessels. Whatever decisions are made, the FCWC, with funding from Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, will continue its work to strengthen ocean governance and enhance member states’ control over their valuable fishery resources. #BlueEconomy #Fisheries #Sustainability #Benin #WestAfrica #FCWC #FishingForTheFuture #OceanGovernance #RegionalCooperation

⚓Absolutely thrilled that Global Fishing Watch and Trygg Mat Tracking Vessel Viewer tool has been shortlisted as one of the three finalists in the 2024 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards! We are grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to presenting Vessel Viewer at the Global Seafood Alliance #SeafoodSummit24 on 22 October 4:30pm in St. Andrews, Scotland. See some of you next week! 🔗🚢 Try out Vessel Viewer - an open access vessel tracking and insights tool: https://lnkd.in/eaaai_9V

Strengthening Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Guinea During a recent visit to the FAO office in Lomé, TMT’s Executive Director, Gareth Johnstone PhD, alongside Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) Secretary General, Dr. Gaston Djhinto, met with Mr. Oyetounde Mohamed DJIWA, FAO's Assistant Representative. Dr. Johnstone emphasized FAO’s critical role in shaping global fisheries management, noting that without their leadership, key frameworks like Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), definitions of IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing, and binding agreements such as the Port State Measures wouldn't exist. The meeting reinforced the need to operationalize these agreements and highlighted TMT’s collaboration with the FCWC in supporting member states build capacity and knowledge on MCS and enforcement. Dr. Djhinto also discussed the importance of FCWC projects, including the closed fishing season and the Regional Vessel Register, and recognized the value of Togo's partnership with FAO. Dr Djhinto said that Togo is a key member of the FCWC and having a close relationship with FAO here in Lome is really valuable. Mr Djiwa is very knowledgeable and someone we can meet regularly, update and exchange information on our programs.Their discussions further explored FCWC’s contribution to FAO’s Blue Transformation initiative and ensuring West Africa's aquatic foods are protected and managed sustainably. #FisheriesManagement #Sustainability #GlobalCollaboration #BlueTransformation #IUUfishing #FAO

Earlier this week, TMT Executive Director Gareth Johnstone PhD, met with the Honorable Sidi Tiémoko TOURE, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock of Côte d'Ivoire, alongside the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO) Secretary General Dr. Gaston Djhinto and senior government officials. Discussions centered on establishing a Regional Vessel Register, the recent joint patrol with the French Navy, and enhancing collaboration between National and Regional MCS Centers. The Minister, a strong advocate for the closed fishing season, seeks to extend this crucial management measure across the entire FCWC region to combat IUU fishing. This effort will play a pivotal role in protecting the Gulf of Guinea’s fisheries while promoting sustainable development for the benefit of coastal communities. With the political will and leadership of FCWC member states—Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Liberia— significant progress can be made toward more sustainable and secure fisheries across the region. #FisheriesManagement #SustainableOceans #IUUFishing #WestAfrica #MCS #GulfOfGuinea #OceanConservation #PoliticalLeadership #BlueEconomy #RegionalCollaboration

This week Trygg Mat Tracking Executive Director, Gareth Johnstone PhD will be with the Secretary General of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO), Dr. Gaston Djhinto to engage countries in the development of a Regional Vessel Register and meeting with ministers and senior government officials in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana,Togo and Benin. Why is a Regional Vessel Register important for the FCWC? Its a key step to improve governance of the region's fisheries sector; it provides a system for information exchange to strengthen fisheries management and economic growth; it acts as a tool for compliance to safeguard sustainable fisheries; and operates as a mechanism for self financing to secure independent ownership and operations of the Regional MCS Center. TMT is working with the FCWC member States with our partners Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) to ensure the FCWC and other regional fishery management bodies have the capacity to protect their fishery resources through initiatives such as the Regional Vessel Register and ensure Africa has a vibrant and just Blue Economy now and into the future.

Kenya plays a critical role in deterring illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in East Africa. Strengthening the monitoring, control and surveillance capacities of government enforcement agencies is key to supporting fisheries management in the country. Building on their knowledge and experience, participants from Kenya Fisheries Service, Kenya Coast Guard Service and Kenya Fishing Industries Corporation took part in a 5-day workshop earlier this month led by experts from Trygg Mat Tracking and Global Fishing Watch as part of the Joint Analytical Cell. Organised by the Go Blue Kenya Project, the workshop included hands-on training of key data sources, tools and analytical methods for the development of intelligence to inform patrol planning and support the live phase of at-sea patrols. Technical sessions were provided on vessel tracking and remote sensing data, including an introduction to Skylight, Global Fishing Watch’s map, Vessel Viewer and the Usalama Baharini Coastal App. This was a great opportunity to work alongside Kenyan authorities, support their efforts and foster collaborative approach to sustainable fisheries. Thank you to everyone involved! Photo: Dorothy Mudanya, Go Blue

How do you manage what you can’t see? Global Fishing Watch and Trygg Mat Tracking recently hosted a webinar showcasing our Vessel Viewer tool. This free, publicly accessible platform allows port inspectors and managers to search vessel identities, track their movements, and analyze potential fishing or transshipment activities using AIS data, public registries and machine learning algorithms. Vessel Viewer is proving invaluable for port state measures implementation, pre-flagging risk assessments, and patrol planning. Fisheries officers from Ghana and Kenya shared how they're using the tool to verify vessel information, detect potential IUU fishing, and make informed decisions about port entry and inspections. If you're involved in fisheries management, maritime law enforcement, or ocean conservation, I highly recommend checking out Vessel Viewer. It's a powerful resource for increasing transparency and supporting sustainable fishing practices worldwide. To learn more and access the tool, visit the Global Fishing Watch website. The full webinar recording is also available for those wanting a deeper dive into its capabilities - https://lnkd.in/eMs7Kbqq

Regional cooperation, partnership, and transparency are key to protecting Africa's fisheries and blue economy from illegal fishing and related crimes. This week, Trygg Mat Tracking's Executive Director, Gareth Johnstone, met with Dr. Khallahi Brahim, Permanent Secretary of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and explore opportunities to strengthen SRFC’s Monitoring, Control, Surveillance, and Enforcement capabilities. This builds on TMT’s ongoing work in the region since 2017, where we’ve provided fisheries intelligence, data analysis, and training to member states, thanks to the support of Oceans 5 and the Oak Foundation. The SRFC, one of West Africa's most significant inter-governmental agencies, represents member states including Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, overseeing over 1.6 million km² of Exclusive Economic Zones. It is mandated to help these nations implement policies to safeguard fisheries resources and promote collaboration and sustainable management. TMT’s collaboration with the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC/CPCO), backed by financial support from Norway and alongside this new partnership with the SRFC, is part of a pan-African effort to enhance inter-regional cooperation. Together, we aim to improve the sharing of fisheries intelligence and data, and strengthen the management and oversight of industrial fishing fleets operating within and beyond these critical regions. #BlueEconomy #SustainableFisheries #IllegalFishing #RegionalCooperation #AfricaBlueEconomy #WestAfrica