Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Five arrests for illegal fishing in Liberia
Sea Shepherd’s vessel ‘MY Bob Barker’ patrolled Liberia’s coastline with 10 Liberian coast guard sailors on board.

Sea patrol operation tackles IUU fishing 

A three-month operation to curb illegal fishing in Liberia has come to a close after successfully arresting five vessels.

‘Operation Sola Stella’ was a joint initiative by the non-profit organisation, Sea Shepherd Global, and the Liberian Ministry of National Defence.

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which accounts for 40 per cent of fish caught in West African waters. Prior to Operation Sola Stella, the artisanal fishing community in Harper, a Liberian town, complained of almost daily illegal fishing by foreign industrial trawlers.

The Honourable Minister Brownie Samukai said: “The Liberian Coast Guard answered the call of Liberia’s artisanal fishermen, by partnering with Sea Shepherd Global to take back our seas from the poachers.

“With the arrest of five vessels, we have sent a clear message: if you come to Liberia to fish illegally, then you will be arrested.”

Sea Shepherd’s vessel ‘MY Bob Barker’ patrolled Liberia’s coastline with 10 Liberian coast guard sailors on board, who had the authority to board, inspect and arrest ships that were in violation of the law.

Vessels were arrested for a variety of violations including fishing without a licence, IUU fishing, identity fraud, illegal transshipment, attempted bribery of a law enforcement officer and failure to use turtle excluder devices to prevent bycatch.

Campaign leader Peter Hammarstedt said that in the last month of patrolling, Sea Shepherd did not discover any IUU fishing activity, suggesting law enforcement at sea acted as a deterrent.

As well as helping Liberia to crack down on IUU fishing, the operation also protected the six nautical miles closest to shore, which are reserved for subsistence, artisanal and semi-artisanal fishing, which employ around 33,000 Liberians.

Image courtesy of Sea Shepherd Global

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.