The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) began, this Monday, September 25, 2023 in Conakry, the training of inspectors from the National Fisheries Police Surveillance Center (CNSP) to conduct inspections at the port. This training is part of the implementation of the 2009 FAO Agreement relating to port state measures, Guineematin.com learned through one of its reporters.
From September 25 to 29, the 16 CNSP inspectors will be equipped on several themes linked to the binding FAO agreement on port measures ratified by Guinea in 2016, which aims to combat illegal, undeclared and illegal fishing. unregulated by preventing vessels that have engaged in or participated in such activity from entering the ports of implementing States.
“The aim is to train team leaders among the CNSP inspectors so that they are able to lead a team of inspectors within the framework of the implementation of port state measures in a manner ensure that all inspections of foreign ships carried out in the Republic of Guinea are carried out according to the same standards as in other States in Africa or on other continents. It is to ensure that the agreement is applied uniformly in all countries of the world,” explained trainer Éric Mostert.
Concretely, he specifies that they will, among other things, address theoretical principles and inspection methodologies followed by practical implementation.
“During the week we will first address theoretical principles, that is to say review the principles of implementation of the FAO agreement on port state measures. Then we will address the principles of registration methodology, that is to say what are the different stages of the inspection of its preparation, during its realization and then the monitoring of the activities to be implemented according to its result . That’s for the first two days. The following two will be practical situations where each inspector will be trained in their role as team leader to be able to lead a team, to carry out all the activities which are necessary during this inspection process which goes from the preparation until the closure of the inspection and the exploitation of these results,” added Mr. Mostert.
Which delights in more than one way the head of the training and development department at the CNSP, who recalls that this technical assistance from the FAO began in 2019.
“The process has begun and this workshop is only the logical continuation of this process of capacity building for agents. This training will allow our agents to be better equipped in port inspection, which will prevent unwary vessels from accessing our port to unload or transship products from IUU fishing. This inspection process is different from others we are used to doing. So we have to equip ourselves, we have to train, we have to prepare so that this specific inspection is mastered by our agents so that if a foreign ship has to access here that we can help our authorities make the right decision,” Guilé Inapogui said.
For his part, Étienne Lamah, Kamsar deputy base manager, believes that this training will help resolve many port difficulties.
“We have encountered quite a few problems in terms of port inspection, but through FAO we will be equipped to face these difficulties. I am an inspector but this is the first time for me to participate in such training. I am delighted and I know that I will be able to serve my people through this training,” he said.
Going in the same direction, Salematou Camara, Inspector, indicates that she will give the participants much more skills to serve the nation.
“It first allows us to master the inspection tools, once in port we will know what to do. This will be very beneficial for us. Especially the theme of port state measures, this theme will allow us to have much more competence, and to respond in the service of our nation,” she said.