Kungsfenan The Swedish Seafood Award in the Sustainable Fishing 2009 category goes to two nominees: Dr Abraham Iyambo, the Namibian Fisheries and Natural Resources Minister, for his work in developing a sustainable administration of Namibia’s fishing resources. Dr Joe Borg, the EU Commissioner and former minister of foreign affairs of Malta, for raising awareness of fishing issues essential to reduce problems in EU fishing waters throughout his tenure. The prize is 200,000 Swedish crowns.

Dr Abraham Iyambo, has established an effective, research based administration within a short timeframe in Namibia. Dr Iyambo generated progress through development work regionally, nationally and internationally, and fishing is now the sector with the most job opportunities in the country. Furthermore, Dr Iyambo has found ways to limit illegal and unregulated fishing in the South East Atlantic. He contributed to formulating the Reykjavik declaration on the necessity of applying an ecosystem approach in fishing administration. Throughout his work, Dr Iyambo has dared to make decisions that were unpopular at the time, but which proved to be both constructive and far-sighted.

Dr Joe Borg, has worked hard to have the EU's current fishing policy thoroughly reviewed. The Green Paper proposal has been the model for a comprehensive discussion within the community's various areas of interest. Dr Borg has stressed that future EU law must be based on an ecosystem approach and the fishing fleet capacity must be adapted to a long-term sustainable exploitation of fishing resources within broader marketing opportunities. Dr Borg has also pointed
out the need for regionalisation and the increased responsibility of individual fishermen in a new fishing policy. The EU's fishing policy is in great need of innovation. Dr Joe Borg has been able to handle short term interests in relation to more long term ones with great personal integrity. His work has enormous potential to create a trustworthy, sustainable fishing policy.

Article from Kungsfenan website.