Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-26 02:45:00
The investigation was opened following the arrest of one hundred sixty-four fishermen for infractions in the Seychelles.
Twenty-six individuals from the public and private sectors have been remanded in custody since Saturday morning for sea cucumber trafficking. They are involved in the illegal issuance of authorizations.
In total, twenty-six individuals are currently detained at the central prison of Antanimora in a sea cucumber trafficking case. Since Saturday morning, after appearing before the Anti-Corruption Division (PAC) of the public prosecutor’s office, these twenty-six individuals were immediately taken to prison.
Chinese companies illegally obtained sea cucumber collection permits in 2020, and the trafficking was only recently discovered. State officials and private operators falsified exploitation permits for these marine products by bypassing the Fisheries Code. The documents were issued illegally by the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Halieutic Health Authority (HHA).
Among these twenty-six individuals are the former Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the former Director of HHA who is currently the regional director of Fisheries and Blue Economy in Analamanga, the head of the Fishery and Aquaculture Product Registration and Monitoring Service, seven Chinese collectors, and sixteen Malagasy nationals who are boat owners or divers. They are charged with abuse of power, corruption, forgery, and use of forged documents. They are awaiting trial in Antanimora.
Sea cucumber fishing is officially suspended in the northern zone of Madagascar. Fishing has moved to neighboring islands from the Northern embarkation points of Madagascar. The whole operation is well-organized by Chinese individuals. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) classifies certain species of sea cucumbers in the annex II of the convention since August 28, 2020. The export of a specimen requires a prior export permit following a quota set by CITES after a scientific evaluation. These illicit sea cucumber exploitation practices were exposed and highlighted by the Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau (BIANCO).
The investigations were opened following the events of February 10, 2024, when Seychellois coast guards intercepted dhows carrying fishermen in their territorial waters. Seized with this case, the Antsiranana court acted on the arrest of one hundred sixty-four fishermen and five Chinese buyers of these spoils. “Precise information on these illicit activities was transmitted to BIANCO, which opened a judicial investigation to address the illegal issuance of collection permits and health approval for these fish products.”
Violations of the Fisheries Code were discovered. Chinese companies illegally obtained sea cucumber collection permits that did not exclude species listed in CITES Annex II. The kilo is sold for an average of 90 euros on the international market. 196 tons were officially exported in 2023.
Read the original article(French) on lexpress.mg
