Nelson Mandela University: Centre for Law in Action

18/05/2026

The Faculty of Law, FishForce is proud to announce its co-hosting of a side event at the Our Ocean Conference (OOC11), taking place in Mombasa, Kenya, from 16–18 June 2026. This marks the first time this prestigious global conference will be hosted on African soil.

The FishFORCE Academy has been identified as a contributing partner and supporting host for this high-level side event. The event is co-organised by the SADC MCSCC and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC). It will bring together African Ministers, regional fisheries bodies, international organisations, and key partners to highlight the impact of regional cooperation in combating IUU fishing and related fisheries crime. FishFORCE joins partners including Stop Illegal Fishing, TMT, WWF, and Oceans 5.

The side event will:

• Showcase key enforcement case studies, including the FV Premier and FV Nova Zeelandia, demonstrating how inter-regional information sharing and coordinated monitoring have disrupted transnational illegal fishing operations across the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions of Africa.
• Present the vision of “African Vigilance”, a proposed pan-African network linking fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) centres to improve intelligence sharing and transparency on fishing vessels and operations.
• Seek Ministerial commitments toward developing Regional Records and Registers of Fishing Vessels, aligned with the FAO Global Record and international transparency standards.
• Call on global partners to support and invest in African-led MCS cooperation frameworks.

FishFORCE’s participation in OOC11 highlights its growing role as a credible technical partner in African ocean governance. It reflects the Academy’s commitment to elevating African perspectives in global fisheries policy and translating operational enforcement experience into high-level advocacy and strategic action.

https://ouroceankenya.com/

18/05/2026

The SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in collaboration with FishFORCE and Stop Illegal Fishing is pleased to invite you to the Webinar “Protecting our fisheries from the disaster of monofilament nets: a regional call for action”, 20 May 2026, 14.00 (GMT+2), Zoom

Link to the webinar via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85205352827?pwd=qWN6Wa3SJyhhixpDWui6bJh5lzOrVH.1

We are looking forward to your participation.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

12/05/2026

We are proud to share that Prof Hennie van As participated in the Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability & Security (GLITSS) COST Action Roundtable on Responses to Illicit Trade, a critical conversation tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing our global society today.

Illicit trade threatens security, sustainability and the integrity of international markets. It takes a united, interdisciplinary response to fight back and this roundtable brings together leading scholars, practitioners and civil society voices to do exactly that.
Watch the full roundtable here:

How can we better develop useful practices in training on illicit trade? This roundtable explores how knowledge on illicit trade is transmitted in training a...

31/03/2026

FishFORCE recently conducted a Taking of Statements & Report Writing training programme uniting Fisheries Inspectors, Field Rangers and Inspectors from South African National Parks, the City of Cape Town and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment sharpening law enforcement skills to combat environmental crimes.

The main purpose of the training was to strengthen law enforcement capacity to combat fisheries crimes, poaching and environmental non-compliance. These delegates were equipped with the skills needed to build stronger cases, ensure successful prosecutions and protect South Africa's natural resources.

Hosted in the fully equipped SANParks Regional Offices Boardroom at Table Mountain, the training went far beyond the classroom. Delegates engaged through a dynamic mix of:
• presentations to build solid theoretical foundations
• group discussions encouraging knowledge sharing across agencies
• videos bringing real scenarios to life
• practical demonstrations showing best practices in action and
• practical exercises taken outside the classroom, putting skills to the test in real conditions.

This hands-on, multi-method approach ensured that both experienced officers and newer members didn't just learn but it allowed them the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired. Officers from different departments began to truly understand and appreciate each other's roles. When Fisheries Inspectors, Field Rangers and Law Enforcement Officers work together, the net closes tighter around those who seek to exploit our oceans, parks and ecosystems.

The training was facilitated by Ms. Petro van der Westhuizen with expertise in SAPS & Forensics and Adv Phil Snijman, a State Prosecutor & expert in Environmental Law.

05/03/2026

Empowering Law Enforcement: Officials from Emalahleni Local Municipality recently attended our intensive 5 day training in Emalahleni (old Witbank), led by expert facilitator Mr Barry Patterson. With newfound confidence and skills, they're now better equipped to excel in their daily roles!

01/12/2025

Officials from Gamagara Local Municipality attended our Law Enforcement by Peace Officers Training in Kathu on the 10-14 November and the 17-21 November 2025. Delegates certainly enjoyed the training and felt better equipped to carry out their daily tasks. ☺️
Facilitator: Ms Petro van Der Westhuizen

28/11/2025

Capacity Building on Fisheries-Related Crimes training in Mozambique. This training was attended by magistrates, criminal investigators and maritime authorities, 11 - 18 November 2025.

13/08/2025

Case Study Webinar – Responses to Illicit Trade

The webinar that will take place on Thursday, 28 August, at 12:00 Swiss time.

The webinar Zoom link: https://rug-nl.zoom.us/meeting/register/rF33qsbaR2Gf3R95OSVSRQ .

Overview
The Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade aims to highlight diverse and concrete responses to various forms of illicit trade. This webinar brings together experts to present short case studies on initiatives addressing the illicit trade in marine resources, money laundering, and fi****ms. Each presentation will focus on practical developments, policy implications, and institutional challenges relevant to their respective domains.

Prof Hennie van As will present the FishFORCE project, an initiative led by Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, which combines inter-agency cooperation, capacity building, and intelligence-led enforcement to combat marine poaching, with a focus on abalone and rock lobster.

28/07/2025

A group of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Councillors were trained on the 21-23 July 2025 on the Introduction to Local Government Law short learning course.
The Councillors showed great enthusiasm and expressed their satisfaction and gratitude to the facilitator for his expertise and guidance in the subject at hand.
Facilitator: Former Director of Centre for Law in Action/FishForce Academy, Prof Hennie van As.
Missionvale, Second Avenue & Bird Street Campuses
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

11/07/2025

Today marks the successful completion of Law Enforcement by Peace Officers (LEPO) training for Border Management Authority SA BMA officials.

The FishFORCE Academy delivered comprehensive training to three groups of Border Management Authority personnel, equipping them with the essential skills and knowledge needed to effectively perform their duties as peace officers.

The training took place at the Port of Entry Control Centre in
Cape Town between June and July 2025 and was facilitated by Adv. Phil Snijman and Ms Petro van der Westhuizen.

This training ensures that border guards are well prepared to execute their functions under sections 18-21 of the BMA Act, reinforcing our commitment to professional border security and law enforcement standards.