SA-Flagged Vessel Still on IUU Fishing Lists, but Not to Blame

It is several years since the South Africa-flagged longliner, El Shaddai, has not been allowed to fish for Patagonian Toothfish in the PEMI and High Seas. The vessel is licensed to fish the species, but it remains on the CCAMLR Contracting Party IUU Vessel List. It has also now been added to the SIOFA and EU IUU Vessel Lists. This is despite a formal investigation which found insufficient evidence that it was guilty of fishing illegally. You can be sure there are some interesting twists to this saga.

The El Shaddai (IMO 8025082) is the property of Durban-based business, Braxton Security Services CC t/a Braxton Shipping. Both the vessel and the business are owned in their entirity by Liz Sher, the only woman in the competitive Large Pelagic Fishery fishing the highly prized, valuable Patagonian Toothfish.

She says her story is really about unclear PEMI and High Seas licensing conditions, the unfair treatment she has received, and the negative impact this has had on her business and personal life. She’s not going down without a fight though, her credibility is at stake, and she has collected an impressive amount of paperwork to back up her story.