Our Experience

NFDS has been involved in more than 180 projects since 1982. In the 1980’s and 1990’s NFDS usually managed two or three larger projects at any one time and these projects would last for up to ten years. Since the turn of the century our operations have changed with us having a larger portfolio of projects active, often up to twenty projects at any one time, with these lasting from a few months to many years. Our clients have remained predominantly governments and inter-governmental bodies in the developing world, while those funding our work have expanded along with the project portfolio to include non-governmental organisations, trust funds and private entities as well as the more traditional donor and development bank funders.

Our projects are implemented in a multitude of countries and regions – mainly African but also in other parts of the world.

Project list
The list below provides details on a selection of our more recent projects organised with active projects first and then by end year and indicating the country or region of the work, the project title and the funding body:

Start YearFinish YearCountry or region Project NameFunder
2024On-going South Africa Support to a workshop on the Three Treaties in respect to risk assessment and inspection Pew
2024On-going Global Review of the FAO IPOA-Capacity and recommendations for a way forward FAO
2023On-going Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros REEFFISH – support to developing small scale fishers MCS plans FAO
2023On-going SADCOceans Vigilance – supporting the development of a Regional Register and improved transparency Oceans 5
2022On-going Madagascar Support for the development on a Strategy for Implementing PSMA and related instruments and implementation FAO
2022On-going SADCSADC Atlantic – capacity building for MCS focusing on integration to the MCSCCUSA Government
2022On-going Pacific Ocean Preparation of a Manual for Fisheries Inspectors on Document Verification FFA
2021On-going SADCProvision of technical and coordination the SADC Regional Fisheries MCS Coordination Centre WWF
2014On-goingWest Africa Fisheries intelligence and MCS support in West Africa Norwegian Government
20222023SADCPreparing a proposal for FishFORCE for funding for a project extension Norad
20222023Somalia Preparation of an MCS Strategy for Somalia WB
20212023SWIOComprehensive review of the fisheries MCS in the EA SA IO regional and development of an MCS scorecardEcofish /EU
20212023GlobalReview and update of the 1989 FAO Standard Specifications for the Marking and Identification of Fishing Vessels Pew
20212022Southern AfricaMCS support to inland fisheries and development and delivery of a training course FAO
20212022SWIOAssessment of and support for the implementation of the MTC guidelines by SWIOFC membersIOC SWIOFish
20212022GlobalDevelopment of case studies on illegal fishing and associated crimes Pew
20202022Indian Ocean Elaboration of regional best practices manual for evidence gathering for the IOTC and training MCS officersIOC SWIOFish
20172022Tanzania MCS Advisory services to the DSFAWB
20202021SADCPreparation of two policy briefs – Safe fisheries and PSM in fisheries for the SADCWWF
20202021South Africa Preparation and presentation of training in PSM for multiple agencies Norad
20202021SADCPreparing the report ‘Protecting our Fisheries – working towards a common future’ WWF
20202021GlobalReport prepared ‘Corruption as a facilitator of illegal fishing: Insights from East Africa’Norad
20182021SWIOFocus on Asia and Networking in the FISH-I Africa Task Force Waterloo Foundation
20182021Ghana, Mozambique, MadagascarSupport to implementing PSMA in African portsGIZ/BMZ
20172021Somalia Policy, legal and technical advice for the allocation of fishing licences to Somalia WB/FAO
20202020Tanzania Preparing a new licencing regime for DSFAWB
20182020SWIOMoving Tuna – analysis and review of transhipment within the IOTC region Trust Fund
20182019Mauritius Preparing a blue economy for Mauritius – an analysis and project document FAO
20182019SWIOAdvise on access agreements and report on the SFPAs in the SWIOWWF
20182019SADC Capacity Building and Meeting on Catch Documentation Scheme WWF
20182019ABNJMCS assistance for ANBJ in the Southern Indian Ocean and Southern Atlantic OceanFAO
20182019SWIOCRIMARIO – capacity building for maritime officials in fisheries of the SWIO WB
20182019Tanzania Strategic Environmental Assessments of the Fisheries Policy and Legal Framework for the EEZ fisheries WB
20182019SWIOAnalysis and overview of the tuna fishery and the EU involvement in the SWIOWWF
20172019SWIOAdvise on access agreements and MTC for the SWIO WWF
20172019Tanzania Legal advice and drafting to the DSFA WB
20182018Taiwan Research and preparation of brief on EU carding and Taiwan WWF
20172018AfricaPreparing a capacity strategy for the FAO’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries – Nansen Programme FAO
20142018KenyaFisheries management in MCS WB
20122018South-East Africa Coordinated regional approach to create fisheries enforcement action – the FISH-I Africa Task ForceTrust Fund
20162016KenyaAssessing the effectiveness of PSM through tracking the shark fin trade in Kenya EU
20162016Eastern and Southern Africa Minimum terms and conditions for the Indian Ocean – adding Madagascar and Mozambique SWIOFISH
20152016AfricaDevelopment of an industry charter to stop illegal fishing EU
20152016Eastern and Southern Africa Case studies on risk assessment, blast fishing and illegal fishing EU
20152016SADCAssessment of the contribution of fish to food and nutritional security in the SADC region CCARDESA
20152016Global Supporting the SmartFish Project activities on fish consumption and supply in respect to food security and nutritionEU
20152016Global Developing and implementing an Fisheries Crime Symposium Norad
20142016Indian Ocean Review of the fisheries laws and regulations of Members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission World Bank
20112016GlobalAssessment of EU foreign fisheries partnership agreements – ex ante and ex post evaluationsEU
20112016Liberia Provision of fisheries management and MCS services to Liberia World Bank
20112016Eastern and Southern Africa Technical assistance for implementation of a regional fisheries strategy for ESA-IOEU
20152015Africa Evaluation of the next phase of the EAF-Nansen ProgrammeNorad
20152015Eastern and Southern Africa Analysis and advice on Minimum Terms and Conditions for access for tuna vessels in the Indian Ocean WWF
20152015Lake Victoria Developing awareness material and policy briefs for Nile perch management on Lake VictoriaEU
20142015Botswana Assessment of system for Botswana Government retaining qualified medical doctors and recommendations Norwegian Government
20142015Eastern and Southern Africa Minimum Technical Terms and Conditions for the Indian Ocean countries EU
20142015West Africa Review of legislation to accommodate PSM AfDB
20142015Global Preparation of a guide for legal drafters in EAFFAO
20142015Ghana Ghana legal update of fisheries law and regulations WB
20132015West Africa Regional workshop and training for MCS in Togo for the FCWC region NEPAD
20062015Mozambique Provision of senior fisheries management adviser and training officers to the Ministry of Fisheries in MozambiqueNorway