Stop Illegal Fishing

What Stop Illegal Fishing does

Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) is an independent not-for-profit organization registered as a Society in Botswana and headquartered in Gaborone. Founded in 2007 with UK DFID funding, SIF operates as a network-based facilitation organization working with African governments, regional bodies (notably the SADC MCSCC), intergovernmental organizations (FAO, African Union), and civil society to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across African fisheries. Its core activities comprise MCS (monitoring, control and surveillance) training and mentoring for front-line fisheries officers, an Investigative Unit that conducts and supports complex multi-jurisdictional investigations, and evidence-based research that informs regional and international policy processes.

SIF's product portfolio includes two regional cooperation task forces (FISH-i Africa, established 2012; West Africa Task Force, established 2015), an Investigative Unit (launched 2016), MCS capacity-building programmes, a Body-Worn Cameras pilot, and a set of practitioner manuals covering evidence collection, document verification, vessel inspection, and Port State Measures implementation. Underlying 'technology' is the institutional architecture of trust and information sharing among ex-MCS officials and government partners, rather than software.

The organization employs roughly 5 people and is funded almost entirely through grants from institutional donors including UK DFID, the Norwegian Government, GIZ, the US Government, and Oceans 5. Disclosed 2023 turnover was BWP 15.9 million (USD 1.17 million) across 9 active projects. SIF does not sell products or services commercially and has no pricing model; delivery is via direct partnerships with governments and intergovernmental bodies.

Name

Stop Illegal Fishing

Legal name

Stop Illegal Fishing

Website

https://stopillegalfishing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stop Illegal Fishing is a Botswana-registered non-profit founded in 2007 that trains fisheries enforcement officers, conducts investigations, and convenes regional task forces (FISH-i Africa, WATF) to combat illegal fishing across African fisheries, funded primarily by institutional donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Enforcement & Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11), Fishing (1141)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory & Sanctions Compliance Screening for Maritime Operations (Trade Controls, AML) (TLAHANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD), Trade Compliance, Anti-Smuggling & Customs Enforcement (BPAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Illegal fishing enforcement
• Fisheries monitoring surveillance
• Marine conservation services
• Capacity building fisheries
• Regional fisheries governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaborone

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Stop Illegal Fishing operates primarily through grant funding from governments and international development organizations. Initial funding came from UK's Department for International Development (DFID) in 2007. The organization has received funding from Norwegian government, US Government through Embassy in Gaborone, and German Development Agency (GIZ).
2. Partnership-Based Support: SIF works in partnership with governments, regional organizations, civil society, and the fishing industry, providing facilitation, capacity building, and support for initiatives without direct revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stop Illegal Fishing is an independent not-for-profit organisation that combats illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Africa through regional cooperation Task Forces (FISH-i Africa, West Africa Task Force), a dedicated Investigative Unit supporting fisheries crime prosecutions, and a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Training and Capacity Building programme delivered to front-line fisheries enforcement officers across more than 30 African countries. The organisation also produces evidence-based research, policy briefs, manuals, and case studies that inform African and international fisheries governance.

Product overview

Stop Illegal Fishing is an independent not-for-profit organization (registered as a society in Botswana) that operates as a network-based advocacy and capacity building organization rather than a software product. The organization provides a portfolio of services including the FISH-i Africa Task Force and West Africa Task Force for regional cooperation, the SIF Investigative Unit for direct investigation support, and MCS Training and Capacity Building programmes. Supporting resources include the Body-Worn Cameras Programme, evidence collection and document verification manuals, vessel inspection phrase books, and a comprehensive guidance series covering port entry denial, stateless vessels, and flag State measures. The organization also produces evidence-based research, case studies, and annual reports documenting IUU fishing trends and enforcement outcomes across African fisheries. These products work together to provide African nations with the tools, training, intelligence and regional cooperation mechanisms needed to combat illegal fishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FISH-i Africa: Regional task force established to facilitate information sharing and regional cooperation to combat illegal fishing, operating outside traditional political structures.
• West Africa Task Force (WATF)
• African Vigilance

Products and services

• FISH-i Africa Task Force A regional cooperation initiative operating outside traditional political structures that facilitates information sharing and regional cooperation leading to enforcement actions and increased compliance against illegal fishing. Established with Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tanzania; later joined by Madagascar, Mauritius and Somalia.
• West Africa Task Force (WATF) A regional cooperation initiative based on the FISH-i Africa model, operating with six FCWC member countries (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo) to stop illegal fishing through interagency information sharing and coordinated enforcement actions.
• SIF Investigative Unit A dedicated team of specialists — undercover investigators, legal advisors, analysts, and fisheries experts — who work together to conduct investigations into suspected illegal fishing activity and support bringing offenders to justice, including multi-jurisdictional fisheries crimes.
• MCS Training and Capacity Building Training and mentoring in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), including tools, procedures, and investigative support, delivered to front-line fisheries enforcement officers across 30+ African countries, covering risk assessment, inspections, evidence collection, port State measures, and inter-agency cooperation.
• SADC MCSCC Support Services Technical and coordination support for the SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC), operationalising the Centre, supporting projects including Oceans Vigilance and SADC Atlantic States, and operating the Basecamp regional communications portal.
• Body-Worn Cameras Programme A pilot programme using body-worn cameras (BWC) to record interactions during fisheries inspections, providing verifiable time-stamped video evidence for prosecutions, improving transparency, and enabling remote expert support to officers in the field.

Quantifiable outcome

• 290 risk assessments conducted on fishing vessels calling into port in the BCC region during SADC ATLANTIC Project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Nelson Mandela University FishFORCE AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SIF, in cooperation with Nelson Mandela University's FishFORCE Academy, provided training to SADC States on key elements of implementing the FAO PSMA. This is the first international agreement aimed at addressing IUU fishing.
• U4 Anti-corruption Resource Centre at Chr. Michelsen InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SIF conducted research on corruption in fisheries with the U4 Anti-corruption Resource Centre. The study titled 'Corruption as a Facilitator of Illegal Fishing: Insights from East Africa' offers evidence-based insights into corruption that enables IUU fishing.
• German Development Agency (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SIF began collaborating with GIZ to develop the African Ports Network initiative aimed at supporting implementation of the 2016 FAO International Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA). Work initiated in Ghana, Madagascar, and Mozambique to promote establishment of legal frameworks for effective implementation of Port State Measures.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with WWF to assess MCS in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO), identifying significant gaps in MCS and compliance. SIF also collaborates with WWF to support MCSCC's Interim Project Management Unit (IPMU) and operationalise Basecamp as the regional communications portal.
• West Africa Task Force (WATF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Based on success of FISH-i Africa, WATF was established with six FCWC member countries of Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. A Technical Team includes FCWC Secretariat, SIF, TMT and NFDS, supported by Norwegian funding.
• FISH-i Africa Task Force countries (Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius, Somalia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012A pioneer initiative operating outside traditional political structures that facilitates information sharing and regional cooperation leading to significant enforcement actions and increased compliance in the region.
• Partnership for African Fisheries / African Union NEPADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009SIF became a core component of the Partnership for African Fisheries established with DFID funding and coordinated by African Union's NEPAD. SIF technically advises the African Voice at the United Nations Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
• NFDS AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Secretariat of Stop Illegal Fishing is provided by NFDS Africa, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation and implementation of projects and initiatives.
• TRAFFIC Southern AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRAFFIC Senior Programme Coordinator Markus Burgener serves on SIF Executive Committee, bringing expertise in wildlife trade, marine fisheries trade, policy development, and capacity building.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIF serves as technical advisor to the African Voice at UN Committee on Fisheries (COFI), contributes to FAO studies and research on fisheries governance, and works with FAO on Port State Measures Agreement implementation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF): EJF investigates illegal fishing and associated human rights abuses, produces case studies and policy briefs, and builds MCS capacity with governments and frontline officers. Its mission, methods (investigations, training, advocacy) and beneficiary governments overlap directly with SIF's work in Africa and Asia.
• Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT): TMT provides fisheries intelligence and vessel tracking services to African governments and is a Technical Team partner in WATF alongside SIF. It is a direct operational peer delivering the vessel intelligence and traceability layer that complements SIF's training and investigative mandate.
• TRAFFIC: TRAFFIC works on wildlife trade and marine fisheries trade policy, with a TRAFFIC Southern Africa Senior Programme Coordinator (Markus Burgener) sitting on SIF's Executive Committee. The two organizations share overlapping mandates on fisheries trade compliance in Africa and partner on investigations.
• IMCS Network: The International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network is a global network of MCS practitioners that awarded SIF in 2014. It is the closest functional peer, focused exclusively on MCS capacity building and information sharing for fisheries enforcement, although it operates globally while SIF is Africa-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: Oceana runs global campaigns on IUU fishing, transparency and fisheries management reform, including MCS capacity and traceability. It is a much larger incumbent peer working on the same problem via policy advocacy and litigation rather than field investigations.
• Pew Charitable Trusts - Ocean Program: Pew's ocean program runs global campaigns against IUU fishing including illegal catch documentation, vessel traceability, and RFMO engagement. It is a much larger and better-funded peer working on the same IUU enforcement issue from a US/global vantage point rather than Africa-specific.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Fisheries: WWF has global fisheries and oceans programmes covering MCS assessment, transparency and PSMA implementation - SIF partners with WWF on South West Indian Ocean MCS assessment and Basecamp operationalisation. WWF is a much larger incumbent that shares the same donor/government constituencies and increasingly overlaps in MCS delivery.

Regional players

• FCWC (Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea): FCWC is the regional fisheries body for six West African states where SIF runs the West Africa Task Force. It is a peer/partner that delivers regional MCS coordination in a different African region, providing a comparable regional enforcement model to SADC MCSCC.

Emerging players

• Global Fishing Watch: Global Fishing Watch provides vessel tracking, transparency and AIS-based IUU detection tools used by enforcement agencies. It is an emerging technology-enabled peer that complements SIF's investigative and training work by surfacing the vessel-level evidence SIF helps governments act on.
• C4ADS: C4ADS produces open-source investigations into illicit maritime activity including illegal fishing, sanctions evasion and trafficking. It is comparable as an investigation-driven NGO that turns data and evidence into enforcement and policy outcomes, although its geographic focus is broader than SIF's Africa remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stop-illegal-fishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stop Illegal Fishing