Norwegian Government’s State Secretary Marianne Hagen commented on maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, during a ministerial conference. She highlighted that Somali piracy hasn’t been eradicated yet.
The states in and around the Western Indian Ocean all depend on the ocean for their livelihoods, for transport and for security – and so does Norway. The increase of Somali piracy ten years ago underlined the importance of the Western Indian Ocean for Norway as a shipping nation.
Specifically, the State Secretary noted that Norway wishes to maintain its capacity on prosecuting and imprisoning pirates here in the region, with Mauritius, the Seychelles and Kenya as important partners. We will also continue to support police efforts to arrest and prosecute the kingpins behind acts of piracy.
The pirates expand in other illegal activities, as State Secretary informed, such as human trafficking, drugs, weapons and charcoal.
Except piracy, Ms Hagen also discussed about illegal fishing, highlighting that Norway fights illegal fishing activities, as unregulated and unreported fishing. Fisheries-related crime and transnational organised crime in the fishing industry distort competition, sustain corruption and harm the marine environment.
Implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) is crucial for fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
In order to strengthen these efforts, Norway and eight other countries took the initiative in October 2018 for an international political declaration on transnational organised crime in the global fishing industry.
In addition, Norway is being affected from climate change and its impact in the Arctic region, keeping in mind that Norway is an Arctic Nation. The effects of pollution and waste in combination with melting of ice pose great threats to Norway’s oceans.
Norway remains firmly convinced that full and swift implementation of the Paris Agreement is of crucial importance for the welfare of the oceans – and thus for all of us.
