Blue Justice marks five years of global cooperation to protect the Blue Economy through implementing the Copenhagen Declaration. The pinnacle of the event was the launch of Glistrup, a cutting-edge secure digital platform to monitor and share vessel tracking data.
In June 2024, fisheries law enforcement practitioners, diplomats, and donors from around the world converged at Norway’s historic Oscarsborg Fortress. What brought them all together was the celebration of the five year anniversary of Blue Justice, followed by a Blue Justice Community Gathering (COMG24) to share experiences and receive training on fisheries crime prevention. The four-day event highlighted progress in international cooperation against transnational organised fisheries crime.
The celebration began with delegates boarding the SS Christiania, setting the stage for what would become a landmark event in fisheries law enforcement cooperation. In brisk breeze, participants were able to spend time together, exchange good stories and build trust across borders and agencies. Upon arrival at Oscarsborg, participants delved into keynote speakers on the various challenges and solutions faced by the states represented at the gathering.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of “Glistrup”, a cutting-edge technological tool designed to track and analyse vessel movements on a global scale.
Glistrup, which stands for GLobal Investigative Ship TRacking User Portal, is more than just an acronym. It’s a tribute to Tor Glistrup, a retired fisheries inspector who pioneered vessel tracking and analysis. This innovative platform represents an enhanced version of the Blue Justice Community platform, developed by BarentsWatch, a unit of the Norwegian Coastal Administration.
Accompanied by Norwegian folk music and Norwegian folk dance by the traditional dancing group Frikar, Deputy Minister of Development Bjørg Sandkjær cut a symbolic ribbon before two screens emerged displaying the new features and frontend of Glistrup.
Regional Challenges: From West Africa to the Indian Ocean
Representatives from three regions highlighted distinct challenges in addressing fisheries crime:
In Nigeria, limited space technology integration complicate maritime surveillance efforts. “The unfortunate issue is we have oil which has complicated part of our surveillance issues in the West African region. It makes us prone to piracy,” explained Adeyemi Olusumbo Abraham, a Scientific Officer Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency. He noted that while Nigeria has multiple surveillance systems, “there is limited integration amongst the stakeholders.”
The Maldives, strategically located along major international sea routes, faces unique vulnerabilities. Prosecutor Maryam Naazleen from the Maldives Prosecutor General’s Office explained: “Our nation holds access to major international sea routes, making us susceptible to various criminal activities which occur in the sea, including IUU fishing, illicit fish products, human trafficking, customs fraud and money laundering.”
For The Gambia, the newest member of the Blue Justice Community, recognizing the scope of the problem was crucial. “We in The Gambia understand and lament the scourge of illegal fishing activities that on numerous occasions have been conducted in our maritime boundaries,” states Bensouda. She goes on to describe a sting operation in March 2024, where the Gambian Navy in a coordinated effort with a multilateral partner netted eight industrial trawlers for serious offenses ranging from fishing inside designated, protected waters, as well as using undersized mesh sizes and misreporting their catches.
“The financial losses that we are incurring as a result of these crimes is not only alarming, but deeply disheartening,” she states and refers to a report by Amnesty International that estimates that The Gambia along with Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone lose collectively 2 billion US dollars annually to illegal fishing. She emphasises that the Gambia welcomes the availability of innovative technology and the role the Blue Justice Tracking Center in Vardø will play.
Main Photo: Fisheries law enforcement officials, diplomats, and international partners gather at Norway’s historic Oscarsborg Fortress to commemorate Blue Justice’s 5th anniversary and participate in the Blue Justice Community Gathering (COMG24), June 2024. Photo: George Kurian