Eco-Advocacy Group, Environmental Justice Foundation, Proposes Utilizing Dase App to Combat Unlawful Fishing Practices

In the waters off the coast of Cameroon, a tense encounter took place in late 2023. A boat, later identified as a community surveillance and monitoring group, found itself face-to-face with a government-approved military trawler. The incident, which occurred off the coast of Mouanko in the Sanaga Maritime Division, Littoral region, shed light on the ongoing issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region.

The trawler, it seems, was overexploiting and exporting small pelagic fish in Cameroon waters, a practice that has been a concern for environmental organisations for quite some time. To make matters worse, EU-registered vessels have been using flags of convenience to conceal their IUU fishing practices in Cameroon waters.

In an effort to combat this issue, the European Justice Fund (EJF) has been collaborating with the government to provide community-based surveillance assistance. One of their initiatives is the Dase Cameroon app, introduced in late 2023. This app, which originates from the Fante dialect spoken in Ghana, automates the process of submitting reports to a central database, making it easier for local authorities to monitor fishing activities.

The Dase app has proven effective in combating IUU fishing not only in Cameroon but also in Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal. It allows users to capture video or photo evidence of destructive fishing practices in real-time, regardless of internet connection. To ensure the safety of the fishermen using the app, EJF distributed safety vests, life jackets, binoculars, and watertight pouches to protect their phones.

The fishermen also receive training on first aid and safety at sea. This comprehensive training, provided by EJF, aims to equip them with the necessary skills to handle any potential dangers they may encounter while patrolling the waters.

In addition to the Dase app, EJF has been instrumental in assisting Cameroon in revising its outdated 1994 fishing legislation. The organisation is also a founding member of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, a group dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in the fishing industry.

The three-year project, which was launched in 2022 with funding from Ocean 5, focuses on efficient Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and combating illegal industrial trawling in Cameroon. This project, along with the Dase app and the collaboration with local authorities, is a significant step towards ending IUU fishing in Cameroon waters.

The encounter off the coast of Mouanko serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against IUU fishing. The trawler's crew displayed guns and accused the boat of being pirates, but the truth was far from it. The boat was a community surveillance and monitoring group, working tirelessly to protect the waters and the livelihoods of the local fishing communities.

As the fight against IUU fishing continues, the Dase app and the collaboration between EJF and local authorities are proving to be valuable tools in the pursuit of a sustainable and transparent fishing industry in Cameroon.

Eco-Advocacy Group, Environmental Justice Foundation, Proposes Utilizing Dase App to Combat Unlawful Fishing Practices