A fisheries observer disappeared at sea. His family still waits for answers – Mongabay

Report on the Endangerment of Fisheries Observers and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report examines the case of Samuel Abayateye, a Ghanaian fisheries observer who disappeared in 2023, as a critical indicator of systemic failures that undermine key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The hazardous conditions faced by observers, tasked with monitoring marine resources, directly impede progress on SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The lack of institutional protection and justice for these individuals highlights a critical gap in the global effort to achieve sustainable and equitable use of marine ecosystems.

2.0 Case Study: Samuel Abayateye

2.1 Incident Overview

• Subject: Samuel Abayateye, 38, Ghanaian Fisheries Observer.
• Date of Disappearance: 2023, while on duty aboard the tuna vessel Marine 707.
• Subsequent Events: A mutilated body was recovered six weeks later, believed to be Abayateye.
• Official Response: Authorities have failed to release DNA test results or an autopsy report, leaving the case unresolved.

2.2 Context and Precedent

• The disappearance of Samuel Abayateye is not an isolated event. It follows the 2019 disappearance of observer Emmanuel Essien, who vanished after documenting illegal fishing practices on a Chinese-owned trawler.
• Globally, a pattern exists wherein at least one fisheries observer has disappeared or died annually since 2009, often with no subsequent investigation or prosecution.

3.0 Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The risks faced by fisheries observers and the lack of accountability for their disappearance or death have profound negative consequences for the achievement of several SDGs.

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   The primary role of observers is to collect data essential for the sustainable management of fisheries and to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The intimidation, violence, and disappearance of observers create a climate of fear that cripples monitoring efforts. This directly undermines Target 14.4, which aims to end overfishing and IUU fishing and restore fish stocks.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The working conditions for observers in Ghana represent a severe violation of decent work principles. The lack of secure contracts, insurance, and emergency communication systems exposes them to extreme vulnerability. This failure to ensure safe and secure working environments contravenes Target 8.8, which seeks to protect labor rights and promote safe working environments for all workers.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   The failure of state institutions to conduct thorough investigations, provide families with information, and prosecute those responsible for the harm caused to observers indicates a significant weakness in the rule of law. This impunity undermines public trust and contravenes Target 16.3 (promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice) and Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions).

4. SDG 1 & 2: No Poverty & Zero Hunger

   Effective fisheries management, which observers are meant to ensure, is critical for the food security and livelihoods of an estimated three million people in Ghana’s coastal communities. Unchecked IUU fishing depletes marine resources, threatening the primary source of protein and income for these populations, thereby hindering progress on ending poverty and hunger.

4.0 Conclusion

The endangerment of fisheries observers is a critical human rights issue and a significant impediment to sustainable development. The cases of Samuel Abayateye and others demonstrate that without robust protection mechanisms for these frontline environmental defenders and a commitment to justice from national and international bodies, the goals of conserving marine life, ensuring decent work, and building strong, accountable institutions will remain unattainable.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article’s core subject is the monitoring of fishing activities to prevent illegal practices and overfishing. The role of fisheries observers like Samuel Abayateye is “to record catches and report illegal practices” and “enforce fishing laws.” This directly relates to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. The text mentions illegal practices such as catching juvenile fish (saiko), using undersized nets, and illegal transfers at sea, all of which threaten marine ecosystems.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights the extremely dangerous and precarious working conditions of fisheries observers. It states they are exposed to “isolation, threats, and violence.” The government of Ghana offers them “little protection—no insurance, secure contracts, or emergency communication.” This connects directly to the goal of ensuring safe and secure working environments for all workers.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • A central theme is the failure of justice and state institutions. The disappearances and suspected murders of observers like Samuel Abayateye and Emmanuel Essien “remain unsolved.” The article notes that authorities have failed to release DNA results or an autopsy report for Abayateye, and that “few investigations” and no prosecutions occur in such cases globally. This points to a breakdown in the rule of law and access to justice for victims and their families.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 14.4 (under SDG 14): By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices.
   • The entire purpose of a fisheries observer, as described in the article, is to support this target. Observers are sent “to count the fish, record their fate, and make sure no one took more than they should.” The article explicitly mentions observers documenting illegal fishing, such as Emmanuel Essien filming a crew “catching juvenile fish—an illegal practice known as saiko.” The violence against observers is a direct consequence of their attempts to enforce this target.
2. Target 8.8 (under SDG 8): Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
   • The article details the lack of protection for observers, who are in a state of precarious employment. It states they have “no secure contracts, no guaranteed insurance, and no independent line of communication when at sea.” The fact that “at least one fisheries observer has died or disappeared every year since 2009” underscores the failure to provide a safe working environment.
3. Target 16.1 (under SDG 16): Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The disappearances and suspected deaths of Samuel Abayateye and Emmanuel Essien are clear examples of violence and death related to their work. The article describes a “global pattern in which at least one observer dies or disappears each year,” directly relating to this target’s aim of reducing death rates from violence.
4. Target 16.3 (under SDG 16): Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The article demonstrates a clear failure to provide justice. For Samuel Abayateye, authorities “have never released DNA results or an autopsy report.” Both his and Emmanuel Essien’s cases “remain unresolved.” The lack of prosecutions in similar cases globally and the family’s inability to get answers or even bury the body show a severe lack of access to justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Target 14.4:
   • Prevalence of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: The article implies this is high by mentioning specific illegal practices in Ghana, such as “catching juvenile fish,” using “undersized nets,” fishing “during closed seasons,” and transferring “catches illegally at sea.” The work of observers is to gather data on these activities, which serves as a direct measure.
2. Indicators for Target 8.8:
   • Rate of Fatal Occupational Injuries: The article provides a direct, albeit informal, indicator by stating, “at least one fisheries observer has died or disappeared every year since 2009.” This statistic measures the frequency of fatal incidents in this specific profession.
   • Lack of Worker Protections: The absence of “secure contracts,” “guaranteed insurance,” and “independent line of communication” can be used as qualitative indicators to measure the security of the working environment for observers.
3. Indicators for Targets 16.1 and 16.3:
   • Number of Unsolved Homicides/Disappearances: The article points to the unsolved cases of Samuel Abayateye and Emmanuel Essien as specific examples. The number of such unresolved cases serves as an indicator of violence and the effectiveness of the justice system.
   • Effectiveness of Criminal Justice Response: The failure of the police to provide the Abayateye family with “DNA results or an autopsy report” and the fact that “none of those cases led to prosecutions” are strong indicators of a lack of progress in ensuring justice and promoting the rule of law.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com