The Government of Panama, through the Ministry of Public Security (Minseg) and in alliance with the NGO Marine Protection Alliance (MPA), will carry out actions to face the threats of illegal, unregulated and unregulated fishing in marine-coastal areas. from Panama.
Through the Shark Water vessel, the mission will be through surveillance, monitoring and crime prevention patrols, after signing a collaboration agreement on December 28, 2022, between the Minseg and the MPA.
The signing of this agreement, in which the Ministry of the Environment, the Panama Maritime Authority and the Panama Aquatic Resources Authority also participate, will prevent excessive and irresponsible exploitation of endangered species and protection of wildlife .
According to the agreement, the marine protected areas established are: Golfo de Montijo, Golfo de Chiriquí, exclusive economic zone of the Panamanian Pacific and the marine protection zone of Coiba, with state-of-the-art technology, research and analysis of fishing data, training resources and training.
The Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino, explained that this platform will strengthen the ability to maintain a presence not only up to 200 miles in the exclusive economic zone, but will also strengthen the communications network with the National Aeronaval Service.
These communications, added the Minister, will be from ship to ship; ship – aircraft and ship – operations center, which will contribute to strengthening the control and monitoring network of the extensive area of responsibility.
“This will make it possible to be more efficient in the use of resources in our extensive sea and therefore, the protection and conservation of marine resources, which not only benefit our country, direct actions will be taken to guarantee that future generations enjoy the resources”.
The American society MPA is a non-profit organization, led by its current president Pritam Singh, an environmental-social activist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has contributed to the conservation of the oceans.
Singh pointed out that this organization is prepared and committed to Panama, to work together with the Minseg, the National Aeronaval Service, the Ministry of the Environment and other government institutions “against illegal fishing and other related criminal activities. I am confident that the results will be good for the country and its people, in addition to serving as a benchmark for the region and the world”.
Among the established commitments is the guidance and training of coastal communities near protected areas and educational campaigns, in order to raise awareness of ethical and responsible fishing, the importance of conservation and prevention of damage to flora and fauna. Marine.
